From Capital to Classroom: All About Education in NC

  How North Carolina is Failing Its Youth and Their Health In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to illuminate how North Carolina is fundamentally neglecting the wellbeing of its youth population. Before diving deeper, it is important to note that health is not a collection of isolated symptoms; it embodies physical health, mental health, and the undeniable, biological connection between them. The data tells us that our children are in extreme distress. According to recent metrics from the NC Child Health Report Card ( NC Child Health Report Card ) and the NC Youth Risk Behavior Survey ( YRBS ), the numbers are nothing short of alarming: 39.1% of high school students surveyed reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. 19.1% of adolescents ages 12–17 have experienced a major depressive episode. 9.5% of high school students attempted suicide in the past year. Suicide is now the leading cause of death for NC children ages 10–14. 21.4% of high ...

Tying Students to the Mast: The Reality of NC’s New Classroom Phone Ban When I heard of the cell phone ban in schools, I immediately thought of the story of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca. In this story of Greek mythology, Odysseus has to sail past an island that is inhabited by tempting female figures known as Sirens. Sirens are known for tricking travelers to their death by the sound of their song. Odysseus is aware of the Sirens and what they do so he orders his men to tie him to the mast of the ship and put beeswax in his ears. No matter how tempted Odysseus is, the physical restraints he has placed on himself prevent him from acting on his desires.  I see banning the use of phones as tying students to the mast. They have no choice but to exist without digital temptation in their pocket. In a world full of constant distractions and stimulation, can we learn to live harmoniously with these distractions or do we need to “tie ourselves to a mast?” Let's take a deeper look at the iss...

  Public Funds for Private Schools? The Stand-Off Over NC Teacher Pay  Currently, starting teachers in North Carolina make $41,000 (without local supplements), cementing NC as one of the lowest starting teacher salaries in the nation. While there is a general consensus that educators deserve better pay, Raleigh is locked in a fierce debate over how to fund it, and at what pace. Right now, three major numbers are on the table in the General Assembly: House Bill 1178: Proposes an immediate increase to $43,870 with a legally mandated annual increase of 3.67% through 2033. The Legislative Compromise: Lawmakers in Raleigh have recently floated a compromise budget deal that would bump starting salaries to $48,000 . The Governor’s Vision: Governor Josh Stein wants to push at a pace that is unfamiliar to NC, proposing a starting salary of $53,120 . This would make North Carolina the highest-paying state for starting teachers in the Southeast. Beyond the Base Salary Governor Stei...