NC-11 Representative Madison Cawthorn encouraged parents to pull their kids out of public schools in an October 14th Facebook post. His comment faced backlash from his supporters, who argued he is out of sync with people living normal lives.
One former supporter wrote, “Okay, so explain to me how this is gonna work. I work 6, twelve hour days. My husband works away from home. Manages to get home almost every weekend but not always. So if it's homeschooling you’re referring to, then please explain how we can do that. If you’re referring to private school, how are we supposed to afford that? Maybe, before you make statements like this you should be in a more relatable situation. We voted for you trying to make sure we got the right man for the job but, this statement makes me second guess my decision.”
Another mother added, “Unless you can pay me to be a stay at home mom, I truly think stuff like this needs to be kept as your personal opinion. You do realize half of us that voted for you are single parents, right? I’m sorry, but I don’t have this luxury.”
Their outcries are common among parents frustrated with Republican leadership’s taking to “School Choice” and their willingness to abandon public schools rather than collaborate with parents and community stakeholders to make them the best learning environments for American children.
Another woman echoed the sentiment and took the time to write out her appreciation for the teachers she knows and sees working hard every day for their students.
She said, “I am one of your supporters. However, it upsets me that you are putting all schools and teachers in the same bucket. Isn't this what we have been preaching when it comes to our police officers, etc. Some of our schools have teachers who love their students and put everything they have into teaching them everyday. Yes, we do have some that are not there for the right reasons. But to put them all in the same bucket is an injustice. My mother was a teacher, my son is a teacher, my brother is a teacher and I can tell you right now that if you take their pay and divide their time they put into their teaching/coaching, paying for school supplies out of their own pocket, etc. they make practically nothing per hour!! But they teach because it is their calling and they love the students. So please be careful not to put them all in the same bucket as we ask Americans to do with other professions.”
Another supporter added that while she agrees parents should be involved in what their children are learning in schools, Cawthorn is wrong to suggest a mass exodus of families from public schools. She pleaded, “Please remember that when you start pulling kids out of schools, teacher cuts are made. Teachers have families of their own to provide for.”
Hundreds of other comments echoing the sentiments expressed asked Cawthorn to go to work to improve k-12 education instead of shifting the burden to the parents who are already swamped balancing kids and work, many of them in single-family homes.