The article discusses the lack of support for public education from legislators in North Carolina. The author believes education should be a top priority as it plays a large role in people’s lives and is key to the future. Funding is crucial to improving the educational system, and a large chunk of that comes from state allocations. The NC Senate’s budget proposal seems to be the least favorable to public education, with a lower teacher pay raise proposal and no expansion of the NC Teaching Fellows program. The author is most concerned about the large increase to the… (the article cuts off here).
Following a recent article on the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, there is growing concern about the lack of support for public education from North Carolina legislators. The article argues that education should be a top priority because it plays such a large role in everyone’s lives. From learning the basics as we first step foot into a school with a backpack on our shoulders to building up skills for future careers as we turn the tassels on our graduation caps, education gives people the means to think critically with a wide base of knowledge as they navigate life.
However, the article notes that our educational system isn’t perfect and that it needs sufficient support in order to improve. Funding, of course, plays a large role in that support, and a large chunk of that comes from state allocations. Unfortunately, the article argues that the NC Senate’s budget proposal for the next two years is the least favorable to our public education system.
One of the primary concerns with the Senate’s budget proposal is teacher pay raises. While Gov. Cooper proposed at least 10 percent in raises and the House submitted a 5.5 percent average raise proposal, the Senate’s raise proposal was only 4.5 percent average spread out over the next two years. While any raise is better than none, the article argues that the Senate’s proposal doesn’t look like it’ll discourage teachers from searching for better pay elsewhere.
Another disappointment is that the Senate doesn’t include expanding the NC Teaching Fellows program, which provides college tuition for teaching majors with the stipulation that they teach in North Carolina after graduation for a certain number of years. If the goal is to retain more teachers in North Carolina, the Fellows program seems like a good one to invest in.
The article concludes by noting that education is the key to the future and that it’s crucial for legislators to support public education in order to ensure that North Carolina’s students have the best possible chance for success. While there are positives and negatives to every budget proposal, it’s important for legislators to prioritize education funding and to invest in programs that will help improve our schools and retain our teachers.
In short, Following the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, North Carolina legislators aren’t doing enough to support public education, and it’s time for them to step up and make education a top priority. With adequate funding and smart investments in programs like the NC Teaching Fellows program, North Carolina’s students and teachers can thrive and succeed.
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