Back to school notes

Every reporter or columnist is almost duty-bound to write a piece at the beginning of another school year. Ours includes some comments, which I acknowledge would get a higher grade if written in cursive on lined notebook paper with a number 2 Ticonderoga pencil.
 
What is the purpose of education? Our friend and former NC House Speaker Joe Mavretic often reminded us that the purpose of education is to graduate good citizens who have the skills needed in the marketplace and the ability to enjoy a good life.
 
Can you repeat that boys and girls? Good citizens. Marketplace skills. Enjoyment of life. Too often we lose sight of that main goal, focusing on process rather than outcomes.
 
Some thoughts.
 
Education has become too political. Let’s begin at the top. When then-governor Bob Scott obtained the legislative approval to consolidate 16 campuses into the UNC System, he handed the keys over to legislative leaders, giving them the authority to name the Board of Governors to run the system. Up until 2011, Democrats named a majority of BOG members from their own party but made some attempt to include minorities and members of the other party. Republicans don’t even attempt to have a board that reflects the demographics of our state. We are paying a price for their partisanship. It needs changing!
 
That said, President Hans and the BOG made a good selection of Lee Roberts to be the permanent chancellor of UNC. Nothing demands a chancellor come from academia. In fact, some academics lack the comprehensive outlook necessary to lead today’s complex universities. Lee Roberts founded a successful investment firm, did a good job as State Budget Director, served on the BOG, and was the interim chancellor. If the vultures (from all sides) will give him some grace, I believe he will add to UNC’s great legacy.
 
We also see politics in our k-12 public schools. When Democrats dominated, they defended teachers and educators almost carte blanche, often without sufficiently challenging unsuccessful outcomes. Since 2011, when Republicans took charge, they are virtually abandoning traditional or district public schools, instead throwing huge sums into leading as many as possible into private/religious schools or homeschools. Outcomes haven’t improved significantly.
 
Education has too many rules and rulers. In an effort to attempt to improve education, a multitude or rules and regulations have been passed by legislators and the DPI, many of them differently impact traditional or district schools, charter schools, private schools and homeschools. Currently we have 328 LEAs (local education agencies) in our state.
 
No wonder education is such a mess. We elect a State Superintendent statewide, appoint a State Board of Education, each LEA has a Superintendent and board and then you have the legislature passing rules and regs. We’ve known for 50 years this governance structure isn’t working well, but there’s never been leadership with the foresight or clout to change it.

It certainly won’t be Michele Morrow, the GOP candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction. She attended the January 6th insurrection, was an election denier who urged Trump to put “the constitution to the side,” enact the Insurrection Act and use military force to stay in power. She called for the public execution of Barak Obama and has called public schools, “socialism centers” and “indoctrination centers.” She would be a dangerous threat were she to head our public schools.
 
Education is not a “one-size-fits-all” process. Not every child learns in the same way or at the same pace. We have tried to “mainstream” most all children for too long. Really bright students become bored, not challenged. Others struggle, requiring more personal teacher time. It’s time to re-think the basics. Instead of having special needs students in every classroom or even in every school, perhaps we could designate entire schools just for them, freeing up more classrooms for accelerated or traditional learners. We can already hear protests from those who claim this is discrimination. But re-segregation is already happening - almost 25 percent of students don't attend district schools.
 
Education has not changed to meet today’s needs. Space doesn’t permit an exhaustive list but here are a couple of thoughts, beginning with discipline. While it is our law and our earnest goal to educate every child, that cannot include children who will not or cannot behave. We can’t sacrifice all because of a few. Classrooms need discipline.
 
Gallup reports that teenagers average spending 4.8 hours per day staring at their screens….and much of that time in the classroom. We need to ban phones from students during school hours. However, understanding our children already learn from electronics, every child should be provided a tablet with teachers who know how to employ them in teaching. Teaching is no longer just standing in front of the class lecturing.
 
Going back to school shouldn’t be just going back to the same-old, same-old. Changing times require changing teaching methods.
 
Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina broadcaster and columnist who has covered North Carolina public policy issues since 1965.  Contact him at tomcamp@carolinabroadcasting.com