Back to school

Published August 27, 2015

by Gary Pearce, Talking About Politics, August 26, 2015.

Seventeen years ago, our daughter went to her first day of kindergarten in the Wake County public schools. This week, she went to her first day as a student teacher in the Wake County public schools.

Seventeen years ago, Jim Hunt had just been elected to his fourth term on a promise to raise teacher salaries to the national average. Democrats and Republicans in the legislature had enacted a law and appropriated the money to do it. 

North Carolina reached that goal. We got into the top 20 states in teacher pay. Student test scores were rising, and national measures showed North Carolina students making more progress than students in any other state.

Teachers were getting more than pay. They were getting respect. They made more money if they got a master’s degree or earned national board certification. High school graduates could get their college tuition paid if they became teachers.

So much for that.

In five years, the legislature has managed to undo all that good, undermine all that progress and demoralize our best teachers. They’ve driven us down to the bottom 10 states in teacher pay. Governor McCrory adds insult to injury with his insipid video “thanking” teachers.

One teacher, Jen Painter of Carrboro, penned a searing portrait of how teachers feel about their thanks: “…as I prepare to welcome my students back next week on my 15th first day of school, I’m wondering whether it might be my last as a North Carolina schoolteacher.”

After 17 years, we’re hoping the tide turns again. Soon.

http://www.talkingaboutpolitics.com

August 27, 2015 at 10:21 am
bruce stanley says:

What about the y raises under Easley and Purdue? No mention.

August 27, 2015 at 2:54 pm
Tom Hauck says:

Thank you for your column Mr. Pearce.

One, I think, glaring example is between 2000-01 and 2008 -09 The number of K to 12 students increased by 15.1%. The number of schools increased by 13.3%. The number of all teachers (teachers, teachers assistants and Assistant Principal, Teaching) increased by 18.1%. Total All Other employees increased by 22.5% and the total employees increased 19.5%. Some details -- the greatest increases were Unskilled Laborers 86% -- Technicians 84% -- Consultant Supervisors 79%.

If the public school establishment wanted to teach every child why would Unskilled laborers increase by 86% (from 592 to 1,099) or technicians by 84% (from 892 to 1,640) or even "Officials, Administrators, Mangers (the high paying jobs) by 23.3% (from 1,515 to 1,868) even Assistant Principals Non-Teaching increased by 23.8% (from 2,354 to 2,914).

Remember students increased 15.1% (from 1,282,576 to 1,476,566) and schools increased 13.3% (from 2202 to 2496).

2008/2009

August 28, 2015 at 10:46 am
Curt Budd says:

First, COMPLETELY agree that the bureaucracy at the top has gotten way out of hand, with waste and inefficiency. Millions of dollars could be saved and put to more direct use.

However, in NC, comparing end-of-year test scores from year-to-year is pointless because the tests change so dramatically from year-to-year. At the secondary level, the tests from 2003 to 2008 don't remotely resemble each other for the same subjects. It would be great if they did so that we COULC get relevant data. (Now that is another topic that deserves immediate attention.)

August 28, 2015 at 10:47 am
Curt Budd says:

First, COMPLETELY agree that the bureaucracy at the top has gotten way out of hand, with waste and inefficiency. Millions of dollars could be saved and put to more direct use.

However, in NC, comparing end-of-year test scores from year-to-year is pointless because the tests change so dramatically from year-to-year. At the secondary level, the tests from 2003 to 2008 don't remotely resemble each other for the same subjects. It would be great if they did so that we COULD get relevant data. (Now that is another topic that deserves immediate attention.)

August 28, 2015 at 11:13 pm
Tom Hauck says:

Thank you for your comments and agree with most of them.

My reason for showing the various years was to show that the difference between White, Black and Hispanic test scores have not improved when compared with each other. There is a 20 to 30% difference between the Whites and the two minority groups and that does not improve over the years. The difference in test score results between the "poor" and the "not poor" is the same 20 to 30%.

If your "poor" child was learning 30% less than a child sitting next to your child would you not seek a school that would teach your child to the same level as the "not poor" child?