To Kirk, his little hat-swapping act is perfectly reasonable. No conflict at all. What is good for schools in this state should be good for business, too. In theory, at least, he is right. Business leaders, after all, have a stake in North Carolina schools producing the best-educated workers possible.
Skilled workers fuel a thriving economy.
Hammering this theme for the past three years, Kirk has managed to waltz the line between his two roles without much criticism. At the same time, he lobbied for greater accountability in the schools, he was urging lawmakers to hold the line on taxes. Barely a peep of dissent. But this year is different. Gov. Mike Easley has proposed enhancing the schools, which account for better than 40 percent of state spending, with a lottery.