Harvard/Harris poll shows overwhelming school choice support
Despite the rhetoric by Democrats and anti-choice activists, Americans want more charter schools
Despite the rhetoric by Democrats and anti-choice activists, Americans want more charter schools according to a June Harvard/Harris Poll.
Most Americans - 64% - want to live in a state that has low taxes, is pro-charter school, and has restrictions on abortion and "gender-affirming" surgeries for kids under 18 years of age. 82% of Republicans and 63% want to live in such a state whereas only 48% of Democrats do.
Notice the poll then flips the question a bit, maybe to get better optics, but the results are even stronger.
The question asks, Would you want to live or not live in a state with increasing taxes, that allowed minors to get gender surgery without parental permission, that encouraged undocumented immigrants, that allowed abortions up to 9 months, had more restrictions on legal gun ownership and allowed felons to vote?
66% said No. 34% said Yes. Of those saying No, 79% were Republicans, 68% were independents, and 52% were Democrats.
When it comes to parents’ rights, the poll shows even higher support and the desire for more charter schools.
82% favor laws strengthening parents' rights when it comes to their children. That figure includes 91% of Republicans, 76% of Democrats, and 80% of independents.
Right now, North Carolina has a Parents' Bill of Rights moving through the General Assembly. Senate Bill 49 passed its originating chamber back in February but sat in a House Committee until it started moving again last week.
The bill enumerates a wide range of parental rights too long to list here, but those interested should read the most recent summary of the bill.
The provision in the bill that Democrats and LGBT activists have seized on is the section prohibiting instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, and sexuality in the curriculum for grades K-4.
The poll also has strong news for school choice proponents nationwide, but also for North Carolina where several school choice measures are advancing through the legislature.
74% of respondents favored the encouragement of more charter schools in their state. The breakdown of that result includes 78% of Republicans, 71% of Democrats, and 72% of independents.
It should be noted that North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has been crisscrossing the state trying to increase pressure on the legislature to halt the expansion of the state's popular Opportunity Scholarships Program.
Cooper, who was highly criticized for keeping NC in a pandemic state of emergency for 888 days, began his campaign against school choice by announcing a "state of emergency."
More To The Story
Questions on "puberty blockers" and "gender surgery" show most Americans reject these concepts for children.
78% said puberty blockers and so-called "gender-affirming" surgery should only be allowed for people over the age of 18.
The breakout of that number includes 89% of Republicans, 67% of Democrats, and 77% of independents.
The way the next question is worded initially gives the impression that there is opposition to laws blocking "gender-affirming" surgeries and puberty blockers.
Worded another way, 77% favor the law in their state that would prohibit gender-changing surgery and puberty blockers for minors without parental permission. That 77% includes 87% of Republicans, 66% of Democrats, and 78% of independents.
The North Carolina General Assembly has two bills addressing these kinds of surgeries; House Bill 808 and Senate Bill 639. The bills when filed were identical and are now companions on the legislature website with the House version taking the lead.
The overview of the bill says it would "prohibit medical professionals from performing surgical gender transition procedures on minors and prescribing, providing, or dispensing puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones to minors, with some exceptions."
Additionally, "Medical professionals who violate these provisions would have their licenses revoked, and minors who underwent a surgical gender transition procedure or who were prescribed or provided with puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones" would have the right to sue those who did the surgery or gave them the drugs.
The bill would also block state funds from being used for gender transition surgeries or giving puberty blockers to kids.
For more details on House Bill 808, check out the June 22 summary.
The bill passed the House and is now sitting with the Senate Rules and Operations Committee. That committee is typically the final stop before a floor vote.