Teacher challenges state to invest in textbooks.
Jay Sampson, a Guilford County world history teacher, carries a sign showing President Donald Trump to make a point about inadequate textbooks during Wednesday's teacher rally at the General Assembly in Raleigh. Karen Tam / Carolina Public Press

The first of May brought hotter-than-average temperatures and several thousand red-shirted educators to Raleigh, as teachers and supporters rallied at the General Assembly for the second year in a row.

Their agenda was varied, including a $15-an-hour minimum wage for support staff, more funds for supplies and Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

In the spring heat on the Halifax Mall, they cheered on an array of speakers including Keena Proctor, a teaching assistant from Buncombe County.

“Can you believe I’ve taught for 26 years, but I only make $12.47 an hour?” she said. “Think about it.”

She called for raises in pay for classroom assistants like her as well as cafeteria workers, janitors and other support staff. “You are worth it!” she shouted out to each group.

Veteran teacher Dawn Davis, who teaches high school English in Guilford County, was among those listening to speeches under the shade trees lining the mall.

Davis said she showed up because she’s worried about the next generation of teachers becoming discouraged about the future of the profession. Year after year, they see insufficient funds for needed programs, textbooks and supplies, she said. The low pay for support staff is also having an impact.

“It takes a whole team to educate our children,” she said. Her school system is dealing with a constant shortage of bus drivers.

“We’re 50 short about every day, and our buses are late for school because drivers are scrambling.”

Governor poses for selfie with teacher during May 1 educataion rally.
Gov. Roy Cooper poses for a selfie with a teacher during Wednesday’s teacher rally in Raleigh. Some Republican lawmakers criticized the event as being little more than a Democratic Party promotion. Karen Tam / Carolina Public Press

Partisan criticism

Although the event was intended to be more rally than lobbying session with individual lawmakers, some legislators did venture outside and several dozen teachers made their way inside where, they were met with large posters touting Republican accomplishments in education scattered through the halls.

In the weeks leading up to the event, some GOP legislators pushed back calling the event political theater.

As educators marched toward the legislative complex Wednesday morning Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, put out a statement criticizing teachers for closing school systems to attend the event.

“Of the thousands of people who will be here, hardly any scheduled meetings with legislators,” Hise said. “This is not advocacy. This is not a ‘workday.’ This is a political rally for Democrats that’s keeping nearly 1 million kids out of school.”

Others said, despite the complaints, the rallies do have an impact.

Sen. Mike Woodard, D-Durham, said he believes the additional organizing has helped move legislators in the right direction on some issues. He pointed to this year’s proposed reinstatement of additional pay for advanced degrees, which the legislature ended in 2013.

“I think it’s moving the needle,” he said. “Maybe not as fast as I would want or some of the educators would want, but I think with each one of these we move the needle some.”

Mark Jewell, president of the N.C. Association of Educators, said he is starting to have more substantive conversations with GOP legislators.

Responding to criticism that there weren’t as many meetings between teachers and legislators scheduled after the rally as last year, Jewell said trying to do that would have been impossible, given how long it would take everyone to get through the new security checkpoints.

“It’s a long session,” he said. “We obviously tell folks, ‘You’ve got to get engaged, you’ve got to set up meetings, you’ve got to have town halls, and you’ve got to come back,’ ” he said.

He said the end of the supermajority in both chambers appears to have had an impact.

“We have a sense there’s a different environment,” he said.

Rev. William Barber Jr. addresses teacher rally in Raleigh on May 1, 2019.
The Rev. William Barber Jr. addresses teachers rallying for education policy changes in Raleigh on Wednesday. Barber disputed Republican claims of progress as little more than reversing their own mistakes. Karen Tam / Carolina Public Press

Claims of progress

In addition to the reinstatement of the advanced degree bonus, House budget writers announced Tuesday that the new spending plan also restores and expands a teaching fellows program eliminated in 2015.

Average teacher pay would go up about 4.5 percent, with an emphasis on higher pay for veteran teachers. Principals would see a 10 percent raise.

In introducing the proposal on Tuesday House Speaker Tim Moore said the budget plan represents “remarkable progress.”

But at the rally a day later, the Rev. William Barber Jr. said some of that progress, like the reinstatement of master’s degree pay and the teaching fellows program, was just undoing a prior mistake.

“It’s foolish for somebody to celebrate reinstating what they shouldn’t have taken away in the first place,” he said in an interview.

A few moments earlier he had warned the crowd to be wary. “It’s a proposal, nothing else. Nothing’s been passed,” he said. “They’re trying to split this coalition.”

Teacher marches at rally in Raleigh on May 1, 2019
Teacher Jeremy Mullins of Sanford gave his message touting the value of educators during Wednesday’s teacher rally in Raleigh. Karen Tam / Carolina Public Press

You can strengthen independent, in-depth and investigative news for all of North Carolina

Carolina Public Press is transforming from a regionally focused nonprofit news organization to the go-to independent, in-depth and investigative news arm for North Carolina. You are critical to this transformation — and the future of investigative and public interest reporting for all North Carolinians.

Unlike many others, we aren’t owned by umbrella organizations or corporations. And we haven’t put up a paywall — we believe that fact-based, context-rich watchdog journalism is a vital public service. But we need your help. Carolina Public Press’ in-depth, investigative and public interest journalism takes a lot of money, persistence and hard work to produce. We are here because we believe in and are dedicated to the future of North Carolina.

So, if you value independent, in-depth and investigative reporting in the public interest for North Carolina, please take a moment to make a tax-deductible contribution. It only takes a minute and makes a huge difference. Thank you!

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. You may republish our stories for free, online or in print. Simply copy and paste the article contents from the box below. Note, some images and interactive features may not be included here.

Kirk Ross was the former capital bureau chief for Carolina Public Press. To contact the Carolina Public Press newsroom, email info@carolinapublicpress.org.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *