Both the North Carolina Education Association and Paul Krohne, executive director of the South Carolina School Boards Association, have taken an opportunity over the past few weeks to look at ballot results in the Tar Heel and Palmetto States through rose-colored glasses.

In a day-after-the-election press release, the NCAE sang the praises of their membership for their mobilization in support of their “pro-education” (read: pro-union) slate, which included staunchly non-reform candidates Bev Purdue and Kay Hagan.

Krohne’s column of 11/19 in the Greenville News doled out accolades to South Carolina voters for coming down on the side of public education with their passing of 6 referendums totaling $933 million.

Voters in both Carolinas certainly did vote in favor of certain aspects of public education: more funding, more union control and more bureaucracy for starters.

“Around the state, the message from voters is they consider public education a priority, they support their public schools, and they want their schools to have the resources needed to succeed.”

What is missing here is the fact that more isn’t always better. During this Thanksgiving holiday, try to eat more of everything and see how it feels. You’ll feel bloated, sluggish and unproductive – just like many public schools throughout the country, taking more and more taxpayer dollars while producing less.

Voters in the Carolinas (and throughout the country) need to start thinking about whether voting for more of something means merely voting for more of the same. If “the same” isn’t working then how will more of it look?

Perhaps next time around Carolinians will take a cue from states like Tennessee and Kentucky and vote for legislators and legislation that promote new, innovative and stronger education reforms that benefit children and not just the status quo.