For the week of
November 16, 2012
- carolinajournal.com
Reaction of the Week
RALEIGH — Graduation rates among North
Carolina’s growing number of Hispanic students rose nearly 21 percent in
six years, but there is disagreement in identifying the reason for the
trend reports Carolina Journal.
According to data from the state Department of Public Instruction,
graduation rates for Hispanics climbed from 52.3 percent in 2006 to 72.8
percent in 2012.
June Atkinson, state superintendent of public instruction, said state
and state-influenced programs and initiatives have helped boost those
numbers. But strong growth was seen in other subgroups as well, she said
— 22.6 points among American Indian students; 14 points among
African-American students; and 12 points among Asian students.
“I think it’s a combination of local schools’ initiatives as well as
leadership from the Department of Public Instruction,” Atkinson said.
“We have provided professional development workshops across North
Carolina about how to improve student achievement,” Atkinson said. The
state led the way to implement transition programs featuring small-group
assistance for ninth-grade students, and developed “graduation
resiliency software” that allows school officials to track absenteeism
and construct intervention measures tailored to individual situations.
News Features
CJ: GOP election gains could have far-reaching consequences
RALEIGH — A postelection briefing by the N.C.
FreeEnterprise Foundation spelled out the magnitude of the dramatic
gains made by Republicans in the Nov. 6 election. Bucking the national
trend, the GOP picked up congressional and legislative seats, as well as
the Executive Mansion.
CJ: Government unions big winners in 2012 election
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — Government employee
unions largely were responsible for the re-election of President Obama,
and will seek payback through weaker right-to-work laws and approval of
collective bargaining rights for 21 million health care workers under
Obamacare, union critic Mallory Factor says. CJ: Duke’s China branch campus brings out critics
DURHAM — In late August, Duke University
received approval from the Chinese government to start a branch campus
in Kunshan, China. The controversial venture has caused a number of
critics to question Duke’s rationale, as well as the rationale of other
prominent American universities that have tried similar operations, with
limited success. NC’s health exchange will be state-federal partnership
RALEIGH — The federal government and the
state will share the responsibility for setting up a health care
exchange in North Carolina, Gov. Bev Perdue announced Thursday. Republican
leaders had mixed responses to the decision, with the Senate leader
saying the lame-duck governor should not have acted. Linda Coleman will file election lawsuits
RALEIGH — Linda Coleman, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor
who is still battling Republican Dan Forest for votes, plans to file
two lawsuits Friday in Wake County that could further her cause.
Upcoming Events
Monday, November 19, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.
Shaftesbury Society Luncheon
with our special guest Jonathan Butcher
“Education Savings Accounts: A Path to Give All Children an Effective Education and Prepare Them for Life.” Thursday, December 06, 2012 at 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Spirit of Inquiry Awards Dinner
and guest speaker John Hood
"The Changing Political Climate in North Carolina
and What That Means to Higher Education"
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Capital Quotes
“The Democratic Party in North Carolina is as weak as it has ever been as a political power force.”
— John Davis, a veteran North Carolina political researcher, talking to the Associated Press.
“We had a plan, and we worked that plan.”
— Rep. Ruth Samuelson, R-Mecklenburg, describing to the Charlotte Observer how she and others directed money into competitive races to gain nine seats in the House.
“The leadership is not going to be in place after January, and there’s no way that they can guarantee anything when they are no longer going to be there.”
— Rob Thompson, executive director of The Covenant with North Carolina’s Children, as quoted by the Associated Press, questioning the decision by Gov. Bev Perdue and Department of Health and Human Services leaders to transfer $20 million deemed to be excess from several program areas to pre-K education.
“Hunters must afford wild animals the same right Patrick Henry yearned for: ‘Give me liberty, or give me death!’””
— Administrative Law Judge Fred Morrison, as quoted by the Associated Press, ruling that state officials don’t have the authority to issue a permit allowing the Brasstown possum drop, in which a possum in a see-through box covered with tinsel is lowering to the ground at midnight on New Years in Brasstown in Clay County and then released.
On The Air This Week…
This week on C J Radio…
JLF’s John Hood discusses Pat McCrory’s election as governor and makes recommendations for tax reform; New York Times Columnist Ross Douthat analyzes criticism of capitalism; JLF’s Terry Stoops explains why gains in N.C.’s graduation rate are tied to factors outside school control; Star Parker of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education offers ideas for avoiding dependency on government; and Carolina Journal’s Jon Ham critiques mainstream media coverage of Election 2012.
This week on NC Spin…
Join moderator Tom Campbell
for another week of political discussion and debate on the most
intelligent television talk show in the state. Topics this week: The new administration; jobs and the economy; tax reform; and judicial reform. This week’s panelists: John Hood, president of the John Locke Foundation; Chris Fitzsimon of NC Policy Watch; former House Speaker Joe Mavretic; and former Lieutenant Governor Dennis Wicker.
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