Opinion: NC public schools are the beating heart of our communities. They deserve better.

A former social studies teacher in NC public schools says state and federal leaders are failing to uphold their obligation to education.

When I was teaching from 2011 to 2017, social studies was my favorite subject—not just for the maps and timelines, but for what they revealed about how power moves.  The classes explained who makes decisions, who carries their cost, and how geography and governance collide.

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In 4th grade, North Carolina history is the star. We teach our students how rivers like the Eno shaped trade and settlement, how industries grew from natural resources, and how communities are built—and rebuilt—across generations.

This July, the Eno River taught us a different lesson.

“NC public schools are the beating heart of many communities. They are not charity. They are constitutional. And they deserve better.”

When Tropical Depression Chantal caused catastrophic flooding in Hillsborough and Durham, the Eno crested higher than it did during Hurricane Fran in 1996, breaking a 22-foot record and flooding homes, schools, and businesses. The Eno River Mill, home to a public charter school and 15 art studios, lost almost 98% of its first floor: walls, supplies, student work, and community memories.

Hurricane Fran left a mark on my childhood, too. I remember the darkness, the water, the smell of damp wood. But I also remember the leaders. That was the era of Gov. Jim Hunt—a champion for public education and long-term infrastructure investment.

Cuts to NC public schools

Whether it’s storm recovery efforts or ensuring our public schools are resilient, we could use that kind of vision again. As North Carolina braces for the storm that is Trump’s cuts, and our state goes without a comprehensive budget, here’s what social studies look like in 2025: 

Federal: North Carolina is being shorted over $169 million in public education funds due to federal cuts—money already approved but withheld due to political posturing.

State: Despite a Supreme Court mandate in the Leandro case, Republican lawmakers continue to ignore their constitutional duty to provide a sound basic education.

Local: Counties are expected to fill in the gaps—but now they must also respond to storm damage, failing infrastructure, and rising community costs and needs.

This is more than a funding problem. It’s an accountability problem. It’s a crumbling-roof, flooded-classroom, mold-in-the-ventilation kind of problem.

And yet—we still teach. We still show up. We still rebuild.

When federal and state systems stall, local giving becomes essential. It’s not just generosity—it’s how we patch the holes while we push for lasting change. It’s how schools replace furniture, families recover, and students access stability amidst chaos.

Public schools are the beating heart of many North Carolina communities. They are not charity. They are constitutional. And they deserve better.

So if you’ve ever asked, What can I do?—this is your civics lesson in action:

Advocate for Leandro compliance.

Support resilient public school infrastructure.

Give locally to education initiatives, mutual aid, and recovery efforts.

Vote like your community’s future depends on it—because it does.

Former Governor Jim Hunt once said, “Education is the bridge from hopelessness to hope.” Let’s not wait for the water to rise again to remember that.

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