The Education of Phil Berger
2011-05-24 - by
Contrary to what some people think, I believe the most powerful weapon in politics isnât a negative ad. Itâs a positive message. And Senator Phil Berger seems to have figured that out.
He realized the Republicans were losing ground by having to defend their education cuts â including laying off teachers. So last week he came back with his positive plan, as the N&O reported:
· âShrinking class size in grades 1-3, toward a goal of a 15-to-1 student-teacher ratio
· âPaying teachers based on performance instead of seniority
· âExtending students’ school year by five days by converting teacher workdays to instructional days.”
Being a Republican, he had to take a step backward by proposing getting rid of teacher assistants, possibly in all but kindergarten classes. That in effect doubles the student-teacher ratio.
Berger was able to shift the debate. He even put Governor Perdue on the defensive a bit. She now has to shift the debate back to how the Republicansâ extreme cuts will hurt the schools.
And ask: If smaller class sizes are good, why donât we spend the money we get from the one-cent sales tax to reduce class sizes? Now.
The fact is that money makes a difference in schools. In the late 1990s, Governor Huntâs Excellent Schools Act put more than $1 billion in new money into the schools. (By the way, Republicans like then-Speaker Harold Brubaker co-sponsored Huntâs bill.)
Most of the money went to higher teacher salaries. By the end of the decade, teacher pay in North Carolina had reached the national average. And SAT scores jumped 40 points, N.C. students made dramatic gains on national tests and governors like George W. Bush of Texas were citing North Carolina as a model of progress in education.
On a personal note, I can attest to the value of smaller classes. My daughter just got a great high school education at St. Maryâs School in Raleigh, where no class has more than 15 students. The best part is that none of them are boys.
The Education of Phil Berger
2011-05-24/
Contrary to what some people think, I believe the most powerful weapon in politics isnât a negative ad. Itâs a positive message. And Senator Phil Berger seems to have figured that out.
He realized the Republicans were losing ground by having to defend their education cuts â including laying off teachers. So last week he came back with his positive plan, as the N&O reported:
· âShrinking class size in grades 1-3, toward a goal of a 15-to-1 student-teacher ratio
· âPaying teachers based on performance instead of seniority
· âExtending students’ school year by five days by converting teacher workdays to instructional days.”
Being a Republican, he had to take a step backward by proposing getting rid of teacher assistants, possibly in all but kindergarten classes. That in effect doubles the student-teacher ratio.
Berger was able to shift the debate. He even put Governor Perdue on the defensive a bit. She now has to shift the debate back to how the Republicansâ extreme cuts will hurt the schools.
And ask: If smaller class sizes are good, why donât we spend the money we get from the one-cent sales tax to reduce class sizes? Now.
The fact is that money makes a difference in schools. In the late 1990s, Governor Huntâs Excellent Schools Act put more than $1 billion in new money into the schools. (By the way, Republicans like then-Speaker Harold Brubaker co-sponsored Huntâs bill.)
Most of the money went to higher teacher salaries. By the end of the decade, teacher pay in North Carolina had reached the national average. And SAT scores jumped 40 points, N.C. students made dramatic gains on national tests and governors like George W. Bush of Texas were citing North Carolina as a model of progress in education.
On a personal note, I can attest to the value of smaller classes. My daughter just got a great high school education at St. Maryâs School in Raleigh, where no class has more than 15 students. The best part is that none of them are boys.