The competition to introduce the silliest bill in the legislative session is now officially under way. Last year, Democrat Earl Jones smoked all contenders with HB 163, which called for the creation of a “Star Fleet Academy Complex” at N.C. A&T.
This year, Republican Fletcher Hartsell jumped into the lead with the introduction of SB 166–the “No Adult Left Behind” act. This bill allocates $5 million to increase the percentage of North Carolinians with higher education credentials of one type or another. I believe his colleagues are looking for ways to cut spending rather than increase it.
However, he immediately topped that with the introduction of another bill. No, not the “No Geezer Left Behind” act, but HB 169–the “Study Innovations/Incentives in Education” act. It will allocate $100,000 to start a study commission to do the following:
Study the feasibility of giving to every public school student in North Carolina an incentive of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year beginning at grade one and extending to grade 12 if the student meets successfully specific academic, disciplinary, attendance, character, and parental involvement goals and benchmarks.
That’s right. 1,000 clams to every student in the public school system who doesn’t assault the teacher (that will be the only standard left, since failure or official punishment for other reasons will also mean denying income, something no teacher will want to do). The mind reels with this bill’s potential for mischief.
