Easley uses court order to push education agenda, lottery

Greensboro Neews and Record ^ | 07.22.02 | ERIC DYER

[callisto]

RALEIGH -- Gov. Mike Easley is using a lawsuit over the state's education system to prod the General Assembly into expanding his academic programs and passing a government-run lottery.

Easley sent letters to legislators Monday urging them to adopt a fiscal 2002-03 budget for North Carolina that puts more money toward smaller primary-grade classes and a nascent prekindergarten initiative called More At Four. As usual, he said a game of chance could pay the additional cost.

"Now is the time for all legislators to focus on leadership and to put our children's future ahead of old partisan rivalries," wrote the Democratic governor, who only a few days ago chewed out Republicans for blocking a revenue bill that was key to a budget agreement in the legislature.

Despite the lobbying, Easley's education agenda has hit a wall in the General Assembly. The state Senate approved a spending plan that holds the line on his programs, and several House budget leaders have suggested they may do the same.

Legislation that calls for a non-binding public vote on a lottery has been on the House calendar for two weeks. Debate is being delayed while the Easley administration tries to muster the support its needs for passage.

But Easley has picked up on a recent court directive to give his agenda more urgency.

Late last week, Judge Howard Manning Jr. of Wake County Superior Court said state education officials had failed to show any progress in improving the education for its children, particularly youngsters at risk of failing.

Manning -- whom the state Supreme Court put in charge of ensuring that all children receive a "sound, basic education" -- gave the state until July 29 to revise its plan. The judge did say that expansion of More At Four would go a long way toward fulfilling the court's demands.

"If the General Assembly fails to act, and act now," Easley wrote to lawmakers, "the risk of further judicial intervention in the management of our public schools increases dramatically.

[Blackyce]

You would think he'd try to find money for current programs before he asked for more money, but no. Apparently thats not a good campaign issue.

[Saundra Duffy]

Trust us. The lottery for school funding is a joke! (California sucks!)

[Saundra Duffy]

If you want to know what California lottery-supported education has done for CA, read the following resolution passed this past weekend by the California Republican Assembly Board of Directors:

WHEREAS the public schools are more interested in indoctrining rather than educating California students, thus emphasizing political correctness at the expense of the "3 R's", and

WHEREAS the teacher's unions, affiliated organizations and their allies on school boards statewide have sought to undermine parental authority and individual excellence, and

WHEREAS California State Law promotes homosexuality, the establishment of school-based clinics, comprehensive sex education, and abortion in the public schools, and

WHEREAS the teaching of American History and civics, including the U.S. Constitution, has been significantly compromised, and

WHEREAS California students perform abysmally in math, science and English, and

WHEREAS the family-related subjects of home economics and industrial arts (shop classes) are being eliminated in favor of school-to-career programs for ALL students, and

WHEREAS the Unz Initiative (to abolish bilingual education) has become law but is not being enforced, and

WHEREAS the teaching of art, music and physical education has been weakened, and

WHEREAS "special education" now means politically correct ideas of disability, not the traditional definitions,

LET IT THEREFORE BE RESOLVED that we, the California Republican Assembly, condemn the "dumbing down" and
politicizing of public education, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we take a strong stand in favor of focusing on the teaching of traditional academics, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the California Legislature implement the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of vouchers.

[Windom Earle]

Jim Hunt ran for Governor 4 times, and all he did was preach improving education. He knew that was an issue that would resonate with the non-thinking electorate.

After 4 terms of his wasteful ways, and greatly increased spending, our public schools are no better.

Now One-Term Governor Tax Hike Mike Easley thinks the answer is....even more money.

Easley must be the product of the NC public schools, cuz he sure doesn't get it.

[HiTech RedNeck]

So what does this have to do with lottery funding? Is it inadequate (yay! Californians aren't so dumb after all)