On Monday, I wondered (“Why is School Out?”) whether Democrats in the legislature have retreated from the education battlefield.

On Tuesday – coincidentally, I’m sure – the NC Democratic Party put out a news release: “Teacher Appreciation Week draws attention to consequences of McCrory education cuts: NC approaches massive teacher shortage as class sizes rise, cuts slow new teacher recruitment and drive teachers out of NC.”

Then two TAPsters weighed in (names withheld to protect the innocent). One said:

“You got it about right, especially in pushing Democrats to engage on education as a primary issue. You say you’re puzzled on the lack of focus. My experience is that the opposition party ‘opposes,’ and the media react to what the governor and others in power say and do. If the governor isn’t doing much on education, neither the opposition party nor the media are likely to take it up, because they’re poised to respond, not initiate an issue. It will take a gubernatorial candidate to define differences; I guess it’s up to Roy Cooper to fill the void – and his challenge is to make it fresh and motivating.”

The other wrote:

“This session is actually moving fast and hard on education legislation, just all very quietly. They’re not doing anything the public really cares about, which makes me more angry towards the public than the legislature. There’s a lot going on that will have a big impact. And none of what I’ve seen is remarkably horrible or remarkably fantastic, but big none the less. But you’re right- Democrats have retreated. The Republicans aren’t doing anything horrible for education (for once). And for some reason this has Dems waiting around for them to screw up rather than doing what’s right and continue to fight for the things that really matter to teachers.”