Winston-Salem Journal - Debate Shows Runners at Odds

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Winston-Salem Journal - Debate Shows Runners at Odds

Perdue, McCrory disagree on almost all education issues

James Romoser

The two major candidates for governor sparred over the state's education policy yesterday, in a debate that revealed the deep rifts between their governing philosophies.

Democrat Bev Perdue and Republican Pat McCrory disagreed on nearly every area of education, from preschool to community college, from teacher pay to school construction.

It was the third time that Perdue and McCrory have faced off in a live televised debate, but it was the first one devoted to a single issue: education. The narrow focus allowed the moderator to question the candidates on a number of detailed policy issues.

McCrory, the mayor of Charlotte, repeated his chief campaign theme by presenting himself as an outsider who can clean up what he called "the culture of state government." That culture, he said, has done little to fix a graduation rate for four-year high schools of just 70 percent.

He also said that teachers feel overwhelmed by government programs. In place of new programs, he said he would support such innovations as using higher salaries to attract science and math teachers in rural areas. And he repeatedly linked the state's education system to its economic outlook, saying that education should be tailored to promote a strong job force.

"I want to provide as much choice as possible, but emphasize that one of the reasons to get an education is to get a job," McCrory said.

The notion that every student should be pushed to go to college is elitist, he said, and it does not serve students for whom vocational training is a better path. The state needs more mechanics, electricians and other technical workers, he said, adding that people can start a business or make a very good living in those trades.

"Not every child who graduates from high school needs or wants a four-year college degree," he said.

Perdue, the lieutenant governor, sounded populist notes throughout the debate, frequently saying that she is running for governor in order to give every child the opportunity to get a great education. She praised the signature education programs of Gov. Mike Easley and former Gov. Jim Hunt, both Democrats.

Those programs -- known by their rhyming catchphrases, "Smart Start," "More at Four" and "Learn and Earn" -- have received national praise, but McCrory has mocked them in previous debates.

Perdue sharply criticized McCrory for his support of school vouchers, which would provide money to parents so they could send their children to private school.

"I believe my future for North Carolina moves us forward, and I actually believe that his policies on education are dangerous for North Carolina's working-class families," Perdue said.

The Perdue campaign estimates that a broad-based voucher program would take $900 million out of the public-school system. McCrory says that number is wildly exaggerated because he supports targeted vouchers that would go only to certain students -- such as students with disabilities who cannot have their needs met by public schools.

Perdue also said she wants to continue increasing teacher salaries across the board, and she promoted her proposal to allow North Carolina students to attend community college for free.

"I know that it's a long-term plan. It has to be. I think the goal has to be free community-college tuition," she said.

McCrory opposes the community-college plan because the cost would fall on other taxpayers.

"The fact of the matter is we can't afford free two-year college education for every student," he said. "The teachers aren't free. The buildings aren't free. The electricity isn't free."

Perdue said that the promise of free community college would help lower the high-school dropout rate. So would diagnostic assessments in early grades to make sure students stay on grade level, she said.

McCrory mentioned expanding mentoring programs and adding more vocational training as ways to lower the dropout rate.

Asked if they would support a statewide bond issue for school construction, McCrory said he would support it, but Perdue said she would not support taking on more state debt during the uncertain economy.

The candidates were in agreement on a few issues.

They both emphasized the need to increase technology in classrooms, they both said that school boards should not have independent taxing authority, and they both believe that illegal immigrants should be barred from enrolling in community colleges.

The host for the hourlong debate was the Public School Forum of North Carolina, a nonprofit research group. The debate will be re-broadcast at 11 a.m. Sunday on Time Warner Cable's News 14 Carolina.

The third candidate in the governor's race, Libertarian Mike Munger, was not invited to the debate.

At one point during the debate, Perdue and McCrory were given an opportunity to ask each other a question. Perdue went first, asking a barbed question about McCrory's disparaging remarks on "programs that rhyme."

When McCrory's turn came, he threw up his arms and asked, "Beverly, do you love education as much as I do?" Perdue proceeded to launch into a modified stump speech.

After the debate, McCrory said he did not ask a tougher question because, he said, "I don't like those gotcha games."

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