A major problem with news reporting on bills in front of the legislature is that the proposed laws are often promoted by particular legislators or activists known locally, but not state-wide. NC’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, dubbed the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” by its sponsors, is a good example - both Amy Galey and Julie Page aren’t particularly prominent outside of the counties where they’ve been active. So, their statements as “concerned parents” pushing the bill can’t be viewed in the full context of their previous record.
Either the media doesn’t want to bother giving us this information or deems it irrelevant. And, time after time, the NC GOP has taken advantage of this, using lower profile spokespersons to promoting extreme measures and sometimes using the efforts as “test beds” for “rising stars” within the NC GOP leadership.
And that’s particularly important with the proposed “Don’t Say Gay”/“Parents’ Bill of Rights” law. We have two women, representing themselves as “concerned Moms”, but seemed more agitated about their own broader far-right obsessions.
UNC TRUSTEES' NEW "SCHOOL" IS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR THE PRIVILEGED: In a recent column, no doubt drafted with at least the aid of a public relations firm hired at $50,000 of public expense, he contended that research showed “more than half of Carolina’s conservative students and one in five centrist students censor themselves in political discussions.” What Boliek didn’t say is the research he is referencing includes the views of just 2.5% of UNC-CH’s undergraduates. And even of the 506 who did offer up survey responses, a mere 15% (80) identified themselves as conservatives while 14% (70) said they were moderates. It is unwise at best to make assumptions based on less than half a percent of the undergraduate student body. What Boliek didn’t mention from the survey was that it found “faculty generally do not push political agendas in class.” The survey goes even further. “We find little evidence that faculty create a highly politicized atmosphere in UNC System classrooms.” The findings for the UNC-CH campus were similar to those found on the other seven campuses surveyed. Why doesn’t he give that finding similar weight? The obvious (and more damning) takeaway from this survey is: the more students learn, the less likely they are to espouse conservative viewpoints. And that is not surprising at all, considering how conservatives at least tolerated if not championed a serial liar and con-man for the last six years. But they would rather blame (nonexistent) indoctrination than look in a mirror for the culprit. https://www.wral.com/editorial-unc-trustees-new-school-is-affirmative-action-for-the-privileged/2072...
I heard this morning that there have been 70 mass shootings since the first of this year. Another last night in Michigan. It may not be covid that makes every parent turn to homeschooling, but fear of the frequency with which children are shot at school that makes it necessary.
It reminded me of the response we hear from those resistant to restrictions on guns:
Guns don't kill people. People kill people.
I've received a flurry of emails over the past several days suggesting it's time to come to the aid of our party. I'm all in. Here's why.
The governor and his inner circle wanted Bobbie Richardson to remain in place as Chair. They we're comfortable with how the shots were being called and they wanted to stay the course with the same leadership, the same consultants, and the same results. We got our asses kicked last year, but it wasn't their fault.
SCHOOLS ARE FOR LEARNING, NOT A BATTLEFIELD IN A "CULTURE WAR": The data on the status of public education in North Carolina is shocking. More than 5,000 North Carolina classrooms without teachers. Fewer substitutes are available, many lack necessary teaching qualifications to do more than monitor classrooms. 10% of the buses don’t have drivers to get students to school. Shortages of nurses and counselors abound. These dire circumstances plague school districts large and small, urban and rural. No school, no system is immune. What kind of urgency do our state legislators bring to this crisis? None. They’re obsessed with waging their so-called culture war. In a state where there aren’t enough teachers for every classroom, the first topic on the agenda was legislation to prevent teachers from talking about certain subjects. Regretfully, North Carolina’s legislative leaders choose to play politics with their partisan base. They promote a facade of parental involvement while short-changing the schools their children attend. Stop the rhetoric and antics. End the disruptive tactics and start now to make the prudent decisions and investments in the education of students, the quality of those who lead their classrooms and the resources these students and teachers need so they have the quality learning opportunities they’ve been promised. Education is the cornerstone of a healthy economy, and it's even more critical in a state that is trying to evolve from textile and furniture manufacturing to higher tech 21st century operations. We need leaders who understand that, not bible-thumping demagogues. https://www.wral.com/editorial-schools-are-for-learning-not-battlefield-for-culture-war/20707466/
I've listened to everyone running for chair of NCDP and tried my best to keep an open mind. But eventually you have to choose, and I'm choosing to agree with Gary Pearce. He's the ultimate insider-turned-outside and his perspective about the NCDP leadership is right on the money.
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