RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — On Saturday, the candidates for North Carolina’s Superintendent of Public Instruction held a discussion. They had very different ideas about how to run public schools.
Voter ID Mo Green used to be the head of the public schools in Guilford County. He also ran the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and sent his own kids to public schools. Republican Michele Morrow used to be a nurse and taught other homeschooled kids while she was homeschooling her own.
There are many things that the two candidates don’t agree on, such as school options, which let families use public money to send their kids to private schools.
“I do not think that public money, or money from taxpayers, should go to private schools,” Green said.
There is a short-term fix for this if you can’t pay for a private school, Morrow said. “The student should be getting the money.”
Morrow wants more school security officers and has talked about attacks on teachers as a way to make schools safer. She said that kids who can’t handle themselves should be kicked out of class.
Green wants more mental health workers and has suggested metal detectors, better relationships with police, and character building as ways to make things safer.
Both agree that cellphone use in schools should be limited or banned. However, Green says that a complete ban should not happen right away.
Green said that his many years of experience in public schools made him qualified to be director. Morrow, on the other hand, said that public schools have become too political.
She said, “Unfortunately, my opponent is part of that political system.” It’s time to admit that this kind of sexually inappropriate, racist, socially charged, and politically charged material is hurting our children and their future.
Green replied by bringing up Morrow’s old social media posts, which have since been removed.
“This is someone who has called for a lot of people to be killed,” he said. “Governor Cooper, President Barack Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden.” Is this the kind of person we want to have around our kids?”
People will decide that when they go to the polls in less than two months.