At a debate on education Friday, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue attempted to define Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory's support for vouchers as a program intended for homeschoolers (among others).
In a question about private school vouchers, McCrory said he supports their selected use, especially for children with disabilities or special needs where private education may be more suitable. Perdue has said his plan would cost $900 million, which he denies.
"I believe in changing the status quo of our educational system," McCrory said. "But I've never recommended an across-the-board voucher system because the state's broke and couldn't afford it anyway."
Perdue responded by reading quotes and responses to voter questionnaires saying he supports vouchers for private and home school children and suggested he's more ardent about talking with them to conservative groups.
"I'd like to know what he's talking about," Perdue said.
(Associated Press in Education Week)
The Raleigh News & Observer points out that Perdue's ad claiming a voucher program would cost $900 million annually assumes every non-public student in the state would receive one. However, they also noted that McCrory did, in fact, indicate support on the survey by the N.C. Family Policy Council, answering "Yes" to the question, "Should parents who choose to educate their children in private, religious, or home schools receive a voucher or tax credit from the state?"
Libertarians reaffirm support for homeschool tax credit, vouchers, lighter regulation
Duke Professor and gubernatorial candidate Mike Munger, not included in the recent education debate, again stated his support for tax credits for homeschool families.
Phillip Rhodes, the Libertarian candidate for N.C. lieutenant governor, used his time in a debate on Tuesday to call for lifting "burdensome" regulations on homeschooling. He also expressed support for vouchers to increase competition in the school system and even suggested ending government-operated schools "altogether".
Homeschooling family chosen for next "Habitat" home
The Dunn Daily Record reports that Donna Smith and her daughter Kaitlyn will be the owners of the next home built by Harnett County's chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Construction on the home, just started, will be completed in early 2009.
The Asheville Citizen-Times reports a group of "about 50 people ... marched through downtown Asheville Saturday to promote the cause of peace.":
"This would make peace and peacemaking a national priority,” said Daniel Pinelli, 16, a home-schooled student from Asheville who helped organize Saturday’s walk.
“The current situation in our world is one where violence is a cure-all, and I think until we see peace as a valid means of conflict resolution, we’re not going to get anything done.
“I am doing this for all of the kids my age throughout the world who need peace in their mind, peace in their heart and peace in their world, but do not receive it.”
The push to create the Department of Peace is championed by The Peace Alliance, a national organization with chapters across the country. A Cabinet-level secretary of peace appointed by the president would head the department.
The House bill, H.R. 808, has 70 cosponsors, although none are from North Carolina. All but one of the cosponsors are Democrats. The legislation was
first introduced in 2001.
U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler [D-NC] said he couldn’t support the legislation.
Shuler represents the 10th Congressional District, which includes Asheville.
Fayetteville mom homeschools in protest over school bus
Tammie Neiss-Mote told the Fayetteville Observer that she had been homeschooling her 4-year-old son because Ft. Bragg schools "have to be out of their mind if they think my son will be getting on that bus." Neiss-Mote had questioned the practice of mixing younger and older students on the same bus without monitors, seat belts, or car seats. She said her son weighs 36 pounds, which is well under the 8 year old, 80 pound requirement to ride without a booster in a private vehicle. School officials responded that safety is "an important factor" to them but N.C. public schools operate their buses the same way.
CDC says U.S. measles resurgence due in part to homeschoolers
Dr. Jane Seward of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention told National Public Radio that the return of significant measles outbreaks in the U.S. is "mainly children whose parents have chosen not to vaccinate."
"A high proportion of those children are home-schooled. In Illinois, pretty much all of the new cases of measles were among home-schooled children — and none of them were vaccinated," she says.
SPORTS: Euroclydon defeasts Westover Christian
From the Madison Messenger, Danville, VA:
ROXBORO, N.C. — Westover Christian fell to Euroclydon Home School in four games 26-24, 25-22, 17-25 and 25-22 on Tuesday. Peyton Parrish led the way for the Bulldogs (6-3) with 16 points and 10 digs. Donna Motley had eight points and six kills and Brook Grant had nine points and three aces.
In junior high action, Westover defeated Euroclydon in three games 20-25, 25-13 and 25-21. The Bulldogs (7-0) were led by Natalie Petrovich with 17 points and three kills. Sydney Bowles added nine points and four assists.
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