Go ahead, support public school

On July 11, the North Carolina School Board Association (NCSBA) released a one-minute video called “Public Education Does the Public Good.”  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMlMokyS35Y) The animated video highlights the benefits of public school with a catchy song. The chorus says, “Go ahead, support public school.” The NCSBA website (https://www.publiceducationmatters.org/) reminds us that “no matter what type of education makes sense for your family, thriving public schools lift us all” and encourages us to “spread the word around to help change the conversation about public schools. 

Here are some good suggestions from the NCSBA about how to support public school: send your kids to public school; volunteer your time; vote for candidates who support public education; support a school fundraiser; see a school play; and go to a school sports event. I will add one more suggestion to that list: donate much-needed school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year. Do you remember the excitement of getting new notebooks, pens, and pencils at the beginning of the school year? Imagine how you would have felt if your family couldn’t afford those items. Imagine how teachers must feel when they don’t have adequate supplies for their classrooms. It is estimated that North Carolina school teachers spend between $500 – $750 out of pocket for school supplies annually. On July 15, Governor Roy Cooper announced the annual Governor’s School Supply Drive, which runs from July 15 through August 19. This is a perfect opportunity to support public school. Donation bins will be located in all SECU offices across the state. According to the governor’s press release, “At the conclusion of the drive, volunteers with Communities in Schools of North Carolina, the North Carolina PTA, VolunteerNC, the Boys and Girls Club of North Carolina, the North Carolina Association of Public Charter Schools, and Governor Cooper’s cabinet members will help distribute the supplies to public school classrooms across the state.” You can also check the Duplin County Schools website (www.duplinschools.net) to find helpful information about needed school supplies for specific grades in our schools. Don’t forget to check our county newspapers and social media for information about local school supply drives. 

For example, the Wallace Police Department is sponsoring a drive at the Wallace Walmart on Saturday, August 3 and 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Many churches, civic clubs, and neighborhood associations hold school supply drives in July and August. Of course, you can always organize your own school supply drive in your workplace, neighborhood, church, or club. My wife and I recently donated a new paper cutter to help a recent college graduate stock her classroom as she begins her teaching career. We hope such a practical contribution will enhance her teaching and the learning experiences of her students. Purchasing and dropping off some school supplies may not seem like much, but it’s an important way to invest in public education in Duplin County. So, go ahead, support public school!

Philip Gladden lives in Wallace. He can be reached at gladdenphilip620@gmail.com.