Yippee – the editors of the News & Observer just realized that North Carolina ranks 42nd in per-pupil spending! Of course, I reported this fact over a month ago.  But, hey, better late than never.  So why bring it up now?

It appears that Bill Faison, Democratic candidate for governor, has been telling people that the state ranks 49th in per pupil spending.  Much to their credit, the Faison campaign admitted to “using out-dated numbers” (without resorting to name-calling).

More importantly, the N&O knows that Faison’s false claim is easy pickins for the McCrory campaign, so they went to great lengths to correct Faison and set the terms of the debate, i.e., outline the Democratic response.  It goes something like this:

  • Yes, NC ranks 42nd in the nation in per-pupil spending, but we should be lamenting, not celebrating, this fact.
  • Mention Mississippi because they rank 41st and everyone knows that they “don’t cares ’bout that book learnin’ like dem folks from North Car-o-lina.”
  • Question the methodology used by the National Education Association (NEA) to develop the rankings.  But don’t go too far.  Subsequent NEA rankings may be useful.
  • Say that Republicans hate public schools and blame them for stuff.

Update: In a Twitter exchange, Faison campaign advisor Jeanne Bonds responds,

@ncrealsolutions @JohnLockeNC Anything in the 40s is too low and not good enough. Distortion doesn’t change the issue. #ncgov #ncpol

@ncrealsolutions = @NCGOP #realdistortions North Carolinians want the best education for their children. #ncgov #ncpol

@TerryStoops @ncrealsolutions @JohnLockeNC “North Carolina had been dawdling along at No. 49 in the rankings” #ncgov #ncpol