Bill Pushed By NC Republican Lawmakers Will Make Teachers’ Jobs Harder
At a time in which many North Carolinians are recovering from the financial impact of COVID-19, Republicans lawmakers are prioritizing legislation that aims to censor how educators teach American history to North Carolina’s school children.
The Republican-backed House Bill 342, is one of over 22 censorship bills across the country that are a part of a well-funded, coordinated effort happening in Republican-led legislators. The bill is not in reaction to any teachings happening inside of North Carolina schools, but rather another tactic by Republicans to undermine North Carolinians while refusing to acknowledge the needs of the people.
- For decades, Republicans have failed to provide adequate and equitable funding to school districts, give educators a living wage and adhere to the state’s constitution in providing North Carolina students with a “sound basic education”.
- Most notably, Sen. Phil Berger has been doing his best to destroy public education in the state, from pre-k through college. Through years of budget cuts, refusal to increase teacher pay, and diverting money from public schools to almost entirely unaccountable private schools and religious academies, Berger and Republicans have blocked NC children from having a well-resourced education.
- House Bill 342, is yet another distraction by Republicans to ignore their failures and avoid their constitutional duty in making significant investments needed to support our public schools.
After more than a year of unimaginable challenges for educators and students, Republicans are now more interested in fueling division instead of addressing the real needs of our students, schools and communities.
With millions in federal aid and billions in unreserved state funds, the opportunity to make once-in-a-generation investments in our state is now — yet, Republicans are attempting to sidestep parents and educators in blocking our children’s and future generation’s opportunity to build a country that we want.
It seems that Republicans have forgotten that loving America and what it stands for means learning about our history, both good and bad. If we censor our history, we will never live up to our ideals of liberty and justice for all.
Bottom Line:
The same Republicans who are ignoring the needs of investing in our state’s public education, are the same politicians who repeatedly stripped away Black and Brown North Carolinians right to vote, racially gerrymandered our electoral districts and are now attempting to block our students from having an education they deserve.
Through the Republican’s racialized fear mongering, they are doing North Carolina students and future North Carolinians a disservice by censoring education that imparts honesty about who we are, integrity in how we treat others, and courage to do what’s right.
