The Facts: Governor Beverly Purdue has proposed a bill that would raise North Carolina sales tax by three-quarters of a cent. The proposed increase would bring $850 million annually to the State Department of Education.
Our Opinion: An increase in funding is a great start to improving our education in North Carolina, especially amidst budget cuts to the department. However, funding is only one aspect of our education system which needs to be addressed.
On Thursday, Governor Beverly Purdue announced she would not run for reelection in November’s election. When they enter their lame duck period, the period close to the end of their time in office, politicians have the tendency to pack it in or promote special interests. However, with Purdue’s proposed sales tax increase of three-quarter of a cent, her lame duck period is breaking the mold.
The tax is earmarked for education, a department in need. According to the Statistical Research Center at the American Institute of Physics, North Carolina currently ranks 36th in math and science. Recent budget cuts made to the department of education do not help matters. The sales tax increase would bring over $850 million per year in revenue for education in North Carolina. The funding is needed. According to the National Education Association, North Carolina ranks 10th in numbers of school-age children but 34th in sales tax revenue for education. An increase in funding could help bridge this discrepancy.
For those at N.C . State, this is especially good news, as it helps combat one of the greatest problems facing teachers: bloated class sizes. Beyond a certain class size, a teacher turns into only a manager of students. With increased funds, they may be able to concentrate on what attracted them to the profession in the first place: teaching students.
On a national scale, the U.S . currently finds itself in a curious position with regards to education. The U.S . ranks outside of the top 10 worldwide in reading, science and math. Aside from funding, current tenure and incentive systems found in public education are holding back education in the U.S .
The Teacher Tenure Act, the act governing tenure in North Carolina, states that no teacher may “be dismissed or demoted or employed on a part-time basis.” A teacher may be dismissed on one of 15 grounds. However, essentially, after three years of teaching, in which they have similar Tenure Act protections, a teacher has a job for life. This is crippling to public education as it keeps those who are less than great teachers..
The incentive system is lacking as well. Teachers are not given heavy incentives for the success of their students. As constructed, it reinforces poor teachers and does nothing for the great.
The money Purdue is trying to infuse into education is a good start, but we still have a long way to go. We hope her successor will pick up where she left off.
