A few days ago, I published a list of states that are considering new legislation to defund their public schools while expanding the corporate charter sector and increasing the funding of vouchers for failing religious schools.
One state was inexplicably left off that list of infamy: North Carolina.
A bill has been filed in that state peppered with words like “equity” and “opportunity,” a typical ruse to divert attention from the main purpose of the bill: privatization of public funds and defunding of public schools.
Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly want more public money to flow to unregulated and unaccountable private and religious schools, which are free to use any curriculum they want, free to hire unqualified teachers, free to kick out or exclude students they don’t want, for any reason. Such schools are not subject to federal regulations securing the civil rights of their students. They are not subject to the state’s accountability system that applies to public schools. They are free to discriminate against students they don’t want.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I read through the bill. In addition to shifting state funds for education to “scholarships” for non-public schools, each county is authorized to pitch in $1000 per student for scholarships. The list of goodies a scholarship can provide (via a debit card) is wide-open for corruption. This is a fast track bill and with some features borrowed from Florida. The bill is clearly intended to kill public education and to discriminate against “unwanted students.”
Diane When foxes get invited into the chicken-house, it’s not likely they’ll go vegetarian.
In another note, we talked about privatization of public institutions as loosing “perverse incentives” into a democratic culture with its public arena and common goods; which need to remain public and well-supported by our state and federal governments.
As a relevant aside, I think this movement towards privatization at the state legislative level is a thread that runs along with the same anti-democratic movement (nee white supremacy in several degrees) we saw at the capitol on January 6th and that is further entwined in our “cultural fabric” with the ongoing corporate takeover of the U.S. Government itself.
I’m not sure how much the last 50+ years of K-12 and other education has to do with the various forms of cultural degeneration we see in the followers of Trumpism, but I think January 6th ripped the scab off of that festering question and set of problems. Many causes, but K-12 deserves a good look-see.
This list clarifies one manifestation of what’s been going on in well-furnished anti-democratic circles for a long time now. Certainly, the privatization of education in the different states adds to our demise as a democratic culture. Charlie Brown is finally getting to know what Lucy is up to with the football. CBK
“I’m not sure how much the last 50+ years of K-12 and other education has to do with the various forms of cultural degeneration we see in the followers of Trumpism, but I think January 6th ripped the scab off of that festering question and set of problems. Many causes, but K-12 deserves a good look-see”
I have mused over this question as well, especially since Jan 6’s abhorrent portrayal of behavior contrary to what supposedly the goals of k-12 education have been.
They all professed patriotism, they all were obedient to Trump, they all were ill-mannered. They professed courage, being willing to die.
Their disrespect for the very democratic symbols of our/their country astonished me, saddened me, heightened my concern for the state of the civilized world future generations will be expected not to accept but to confront.
Fortunately, there is virtually no chance this bill will become law in NC. Governor Cooper opposes it, as do the Democratic minority in both houses of the Legislature. Since Cooper has the backing to sustain a veto of the bill, it’s essentially dead. This is the Berger/Moore leadership in the Legislature trying to throw down a marker for later, in the hopes that they can rally the right-wing vote in 2022 when they’ll need them to turn out to keep their majorities intact. Since it looks now like there may not be time to impose a new gerrymander before those elections (what with the probable delay in the census) they need every edge they can get to make sure they maintain control of both houses. Otherwise, their gerrymander goes out the window and with it all hope of retaining power in the long term. Education policy and the health of public education means nothing to these crass political players. If they have to gut the public schools in order to retain their unearned positions, then they will. If they have to use this as a marker to show their support for the rightwing voters that want this (so that their children don’t have to go to school with “those people”), then they’ll do that too. What will save us, both in the short and longer terms is that we have the backstop of a Democratic governor and the shifting demographics of the state on our side.
I agree with you, but here’s the thing: whether they are successful or not, another goal is to take time and effort away from legislation that actually matters to people.
There is a link between this issue and the proliferation of legislation to restrict voting. The forces behind them are identical.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-lawmakers-seek-tougher-voting-rules-after-record-turnout-election-losses_n_6016dee6c5b63b0fb281dcee
What do you think they’re going to teach them?
A study by the League of Women Voters (Lower Cape Fear, NC) found that three-quarters of these schools use a so-called “biblical curriculum” that teaches only science that accords with the literal meaning of the Bible. They teach, for example, that the Grand Canyon was formed in the flood. The students receive so little true science education that they can find it difficult to get into a regular college. These schools can use any curriculum they want and are not accountable for the level or content of education they provide.
I was still working in North Carolina when the Tea Party movement brought about a coup in North Carolina in 2010. Prior to this North Carolina had a reputation as a somewhat progressive Southern State in regards to public education, although they went whole hog into the Standards Movement. The leaders of this take over were not native North Carolinians and were predominantly from Ohio, among them being current US Senator Thom Tillis who became Speaker of the North Carolina House at that time. They have lost their super-majority status but still push legislation that is pro-voucher/charter. It is a heavy gerrymandered state that is in constant conflict with the courts for racial bias and voter suppression while admitting this openly. North Carolina represents a cynical and greedy take over of state government that pads the wallets of private interests while dismissing the needs of the citizenry. Urban centers such as Charlotte and Raleigh are running counter to these trends, but the Rural East still controls much of the power. It is also a “Right to Work” state that rejects unions. Professional organizations are allied with the NEA, but have almost no voice. Many, like myself, didn’t contribute because there was no evidence of significant benefit in that participation compared to the cost to be a member. I would like to suggest that the national unions work on a way to better support those of us in the South to overcome these working conditions. I went to Alabama where I worked for 8 years and experienced similar professional challenges. I was a member of the AEA but support for members was minimal. The states who have hog tied unions and employee organizations is where the battle must be joined to improve and save public education.
This is one way to create more
inequality and it must be stopped!
We must insist that our public schools be well supported.