In North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper is here to tell you that daring to want school choice is cause for declaring a state of emergency. 

Governor Roy Cooper issued a state of emergency for public education in North Carolina Monday, according to a press release from the Governor’s office.

During his address, Governor Cooper urged North Carolinians to contact legislators after outlining extreme legislation in the NC general assembly that Gov. Cooper said would weaken the state’s public education system.

No, there aren’t any hurricanes on the way. No, Covid is no longer a thing. Instead, legislation that will provide parents the ability to choose schools that are best for their child cannot be allowed.

As we’ve noted time and again, one thing that the Covid lockdowns did was shine a very bright light on problems within schools across the nation. A great number of parents realized that their children weren’t receiving much of any education even prior to Covid. Yet during Covid, they began to understand the severity of the issue. Furthermore, many parents also started finding out which teachers were phoning it in and which teachers were pushing other agenda items such as LGBTQ and more. 

Which led to parents wanting to A. hold schools and school districts accountable, B. run for school board and win, and C. have school choice. 

Roy Cooper doesn’t want any of that. Instead he wants astronomical raises for teachers, and the status quo to stay in place. 

In Gov. Cooper’s budget, an 18% pay raise over the next two years was introduced, but last week, the Senate proposed increasing veteran teachers’ salaries by just $250 spread over two years.

Gov. Cooper claims this will exacerbate the teacher shortage. In addition, he said legislators are proposing an acceleration of tax cuts that are projected to cut North Carolina’s state budget by almost 20%.

One would think from that reporting that the teachers were only handed a bonus. Except the legislation Cooper doesn’t like gives teachers a 4.5% raise in the first year. For a teacher making around $56,000 (picked a number out of the hat), that’s a $2500 raise. 

Cooper also doesn’t want parents involved in their kids schools. He doesn’t want them questioning or “micromanaging” teachers nor the school administration. He sure as heck doesn’t want any parent questioning the possibility of the LGBTQ and gender agendas being pushed in the classroom. 

And then he trots out the ‘only rich people will benefit from vouchers’ mantra. 

We should not use taxpayer money to send children of millionaires to private schools.  Stop private school vouchers with no income limits. It will rob public schools of needed funding and sanctions discrimination.  Instead, use public money for public schools. 

The problem is, Roy is peddling the “do as I say, not as I do” bit. 

You'll also be shocked to learn that Gov. Cooper sent his kids to a $28K per year private school in Raleigh, North Carolina.https://t.co/twkzZeebkK

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 22, 2023

Oops. What Roy doesn’t want to admit is that vouchers are typically utilized by the low to middle income earners. Which benefits their kids and the families overall in the short and long term. He’d rather they stay stuck in public schools even if those schools are failing that child. 

Roy Cooper doesn’t like the idea of school choice for another reason. Those pesky political culture wars.

—The Senate passed a bill that bans curriculum on gender identity, sexual activity or sexuality in kindergarten through fourth grades.

—The Senate and House have both passed bills that would ban transgender female athletes from playing on girls’ sports teams.

—The House passed a bill that it says would keep Critical Race Theory out of schools by putting new rules in place on how racism is taught in schools.

The fact that Cooper isn’t a fan of these bills is telling. He wants no accountability in the classroom. He doesn’t want checks and balances, and he’s fine with progressive agendas that are harmful to our children. And he REALLY doesn’t want the State Board of Education elected rather than appointed. 

“If they get their way, our State Board of Education will be replaced by political hacks who can dictate what is taught — and not taught — in our public schools,” Cooper said. “North Carolina schools need rigorous science, reading and math classes, not more politicians policing our children’s curriculum with book bans, elimination of science courses and more.”

I’ll admit it. I laughed at that. Political appointees ARE political hacks! Roy Cooper doesn’t want school choice nor does he want parents involved in their child’s education. He’s not the only one who says that out loud. DNC hack and former VA Governor Terry McAuliffe tanked his campaign when he told parents to shut up. Current Secretary of Education believes it as well. 

Teachers know what is best for their kids because they are with them every day.
We must trust teachers.

— Secretary Miguel Cardona (@SecCardona) May 19, 2023

No, we as parents must be involved and the schools/teachers need to EARN our trust. 

As to Cooper’s assertion that these vouchers will have a negative impact on school budgeting, he’s spinning for all he’s worth. North Carolina, ranked 29th in the country, would spend $5600 for a voucher, yet the state spends twice that annually per child in school. 

Moderate Squishes: Idk if the GOP should use government power, cause then the Left could do it to us.

Democratic Governor: I am going to declare a state of emergency and run roughshod over the Republican legislature because conservatives are winning on school choice. https://t.co/WipwU7uzlZ

— Tim Meads (@TimMeadsUSA) May 22, 2023

One thing is clear. Roy Cooper doesn’t want parents involved in their child’s education and he really doesn’t want school choice. 

Feature Photo Credit: elementary classroom via iStock, cropped and modified