Opinion roundup: Politics, education and teacher pay

Is McCrory or Cooper telling the truth on teacher pay? (Charlotte Observer) -- Pat McCrory and Roy Cooper are going after each other on teacher pay in their race to be North Carolina governor. Neither is telling the whole truth.

American electorate polarized on education, too (EdNC column) -- in our 21st Century hyper-partisan, perpetual-motion politics, general election campaigns shift into high-gear long before Labor Day. What’s more, our fractious politics often seems to overwhelm holiday expressions of yearning for national unity and comity in public life. Two public opinion surveys, released shortly before Labor Day, show that partisan polarization has seeped into public attitudes toward K-12 education.

Are charter schools a panacea? State scores suggest not (Charlotte Observer) -- New academic data issued by North Carolina this week remind us again that while some charter schools are outstanding they do not, as a group, outperform traditional schools.

The $50,000 teacher (Greensboro News & Record) -- The average teacher salary in North Carolina has become a political football. But football isn’t a simple game.

"RICHARD BURR: Giving our children a better future (Fayetteville Observer column) -- As North Carolina's children return to school, it's a good time to remember the importance of making sure our public school students get a quality education. Our children are the future of North Carolina, and they represent the best of us. I am proud to be an avid defender of North Carolina students in the Senate.