What Can We Learn From What The GOP Is Doing To North Carolina's Education System?

Last year, one of our favorite Blue America candidates was North Carolina state Rep. Patsy Keever, who was running against reactionary Republican closet case Patrick McHenry. Although Patsy kicked his ass where she was best known, Buncombe County-- where she rolled up a 46,240 (66%) to 23,740 (34%) victory-- the DCCC, angry that Patsy beat some conservative shill of theirs in the primary, refused to help her run in the general. In the end, the huge disparity in spending-- McHenry spent $1,127,555 and Patsy spent $419,465-- helped McHenry win big enough margins in Gaston, Cleveland and Catawba counties to beat her districtwide 57- 43%. Thanks for nothing, Steve Israel!

We were happy to see Patsy elected chairman of the Buncombe County Democratic Party Saturday. A lifelong school teacher, whose first priority has always been education, Patsy has been hard at work fighting the Republicans in the state legislature working to undermine North Carolina's public education system. This is an article she wrote last week for Diane Ravitch's blog:

To Educate Or Not To Educate In NC
by Patsy Keever

Our rulers in Raleigh are answering that question for us with bills that they could vote into law to change everything from how Carolina and State are funded, to whether tax money ought to be used for church schools, to whether or not Hamlet needs to be taught to “tech” kids. If our local legislators do not hear from us, they will vote on these bills in a vacuum-- which is contrary to representative democracy.

We have two education commandments in North Carolina. The first was spoken a century ago by Gov. Charles B. Aycock, our first education governor, “You cannot do the best for your child unless you also do the best for my child.”

The second is from our state Constitution, which mandates that “The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise for a general and uniform system of free public schools, which shall be maintained at least nine months in every year, and wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students.”

Pretty simple. Education for all of our students is our ultimate long-range economic development tool, our best defense against politicians who would mislead us, and our moral and constitutional duty. How do we work together to ensure that all of our children get the best possible education? How do we ensure that the limited funds are fairly distributed? How do we ensure that our school personnel have the tools and resources they need? How do we incorporate the best ideas into all of our schools? How do we keep a positive attitude and continue to do the best for all our children? What can you do?

On April 23, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Asheville City Schools boardroom on Mountain Street, Public Schools First North Carolina, a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit is hosting a gathering of parents, school personnel and the general public to provide information about pending legislation, to identify resources and to hear ideas and suggestions from the attendees. Asheville City Schools Foundation and Children First are co-sponsors of the meeting.

At a time when the citizens of Asheville and Buncombe County are facing water control issues, airport control issues and election issues, we cannot lose sight of the most long-lasting and important responsibility-- our children' s education. We can choose to sleep through this-- but in doing so, who knows what nightmares may come? And that is the rub. See you on the 23rd.

This isn't just happening in Asheville and it isn't just happening in North Carolina. It happens wherever voters give the Republican Party control of state government.