Democrats, education advocates link Morrow to Robinson, describe threat to public schools

Wake County parent Jennifer Slusser worries about candidate Michele Morrow’s push to reject federal funds and ban some books from NC’s public schools. (Photo: Screengrab from live stream of press conference)

A coalition of Democratic elected officials, educators, parents and progressive advocates gathered in Raleigh on Thursday to sound alarm bells over what they say is a profound threat to public education posed by North Carolina’s Republican nominees for governor and superintendent of public instruction.

The group, which calls itself the Coalition Against Robinson’s Extremism (C.A.R.E.) held a press conference in front of the North Carolina Education Building in which speakers sought to tie superintendent nominee Michele Morrow to Robinson’s candidacy, which polls indicate has been struggling . Morrow and Robinson have both embraced a host of controversial right-wing positions and debunked conspiracy theories related to public education.

Senator Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake) said Morrow is neither a serious leader nor a role model for children.

“She was at the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and has repeatedly called for political violence, including the televised execution of President Barack Obama,” said Chaudhuri. “In fact, Morrow is so extreme that Republican state superintendent Catherine Truitt said that she would not support her.”

Tamika Walker-Kelly, President of North Carolina Association of Educators, said anti-public school politicians labeling classroom as ‘broken’ and ‘indoctrination centers’ does nothing to help students or teachers as the new school year gets underway.

“We need lower class sizes, not wild conspiracy theories. We need more teacher assistants and school nurses, not cameras in bathrooms. We need access to more technology and consistent internet, not banning library books,” Walker-Kelly told reporters.

Wake County parent Jennifer Slusser said she was taken aback by a section of Morrow’s campaign website that suggested public schools were trying to program children that “America is and has always been a horrible country run by bad, racist and misogynistic people.”

“After reading Morrow’s tirade about teaching critical thinking, you can imagine how shocked I was to find out that Morrow was part of a group of parents who sued Mecklenburg County in an attempt to ban books,” Slusser said. “Banning books has never led to progress, never. But beyond that, censorship is not an American value.”

Parent Susan Book said she was distressed that both Morrow and Robinson would reject federal funds for the state’s public schools.

“My heart breaks on what that action would actually do to my family. My family relies on the Department of Education, not only for the funds it provides our schools for special education programs, but equally important to us is our civil rights protections that it grants my son.”

Book said it was difficult to express what it feels like to see candidates callously disregard students with disabilities their right to a free and appropriate public education.

“Our schools face real issues, and it isn’t about a few people’s narrow view of Christianity,” Book said.

Yolanda Taylor, an attorney for Advanced Carolina, said rejecting those federal dollars also would jeopardize the education of those attending public charter schools, like her ten-year-old and 13-year-old.

“There are two main funding programs that are at jeopardy of being cut based on the express educational policies of both Mark Robinson and Michelle Morrow. These are funds from Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Title VI of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. So, if you have a child with a disability, you should be alarmed too,” said Taylor.

Special education teacher Christina Spears, who is president of the Wake County chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators, said she is encouraging voters — just like her students — to do their homework on the candidates and the issues.

“Talk to your neighbors, other parents, people in your church, any voter you know and share about what’s at stake for us in this election,” said Spears. “Public schools are the heart of our communities and the heart of our democracy.”

On Wednesday, the current state Superintendent Catherine Truitt told WCNC that she could not endorse Morrow, a fellow Republican, to succeed her in an agency that is responsible for an $11 billion budget and 2,500 public schools.

“It’s always been a mystery to me why someone who has never trusted her own children with the public school systems, and someone who’s never worked in public schools in any capacity at all, would want to be the state’s leader of our public schools,” Truitt said.