Mark Washburn makes some good (albeit sarcastic) points in this column regarding Mary Easley’s trips and raises. From the conclusion:

We must consider international cultural safaris a smart investment. Those who say the money could be better spent ? say, on teacher salaries ? are just not educated on the facts.

Teachers are already penciled in for a 2 1/2 percent raise.

Some teachers are doing even better.

At N.C. State University, a person holding the title ?executive in residence in the office of the provost with the rank of senior lecturer in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences,? is looking at about an 80 percent raise this month. From $90,300 to $170,000.

Her name is Mary Easley. And she’s quite an artist.