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Paul Stam, North Carolina Republican, Says Schools Chief 'Should Stick To Her Own Knitting'


North Carolina House Republican Leader Paul Stam made a comment about North Carolina schools superintendent June Atkinson that some interpreted as sexist.
(AP Photo/Ted Richardson)

By Rebecca Klein
Posted: 08/14/2013 5:39 pm EDT

North Carolina House Majority Leader Paul “Skip” Stam [ http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/membersByDistrict.pl?sChamber=H&nDistrict=37 ] had some choice words Monday for the state’s superintendent of public instruction [ http://www.ncpublicschools.org/statesuperintendent/ ] –- words that he would most likely reconsider if the schools chief were a man.

Stam's comment came after the superintendent, June Atkinson, expressed her belief to reporters that private schools and public schools in the state should take the same standardized tests. He said she should focus on her mandate of helping public schools, according to North Carolina outlet The News & Observer.

“She should stick to her own knitting [ http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/12/3102903/state-schools-leader-says-test.html ],” Stam said.

However, as ThinkProgress points out, Stam’s comment not only has “sexist implications” but also “ignores the fact that education is Atkinson’s proverbial ‘knitting [ http://thinkprogress.org/education/2013/08/13/2458421/north-carolina-stam-knitting/ ].’”

Some Twitter users also found Stam’s comments to be sexist [

The only thing unique about this latest sexist quote from Skip Stam is that it got reported on. He detests powerful women. #ncpol #ncga

— Will Cubbison וויל קביסון (@wccubbison) August 13, 2013

; https://twitter.com/toritaylor/statuses/367299098333806593 ]:

Will Cubbison
@wccubbison
The only thing unique about this latest sexist quote from Skip Stam is that it got reported on. He detests powerful women. #ncpol #ncga
10:09 AM - 13 Aug 2013

Tori Taylor
@toritaylor
FACT: Women are over half the North Carolina population. Skip Stam, how many should just "stick to knitting?" bit.ly/14HyxpL #ncpol
9:58 AM - 13 Aug 2013

Stam’s comments Monday came on the same day that teachers and parents rallied in Charlotte against state education budget cuts [ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/08/12/4230847/teachers-supporters-rally-in-charlotte.html ]. The North Carolina legislature recently passed a budget that puts an end to teacher tenure and cuts positions for teachers assistants, but expands charter schools and school vouchers [ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/30/anastasia-trueman-north-carolina_n_3677593.html ].

Stam is a big supporter of school vouchers, which are scholarships to private schools paid for by tax-payer money. In April the News Observer wrote an editorial decrying Stam’s position on vouchers, titled “Stam’s Crusade [ http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/19/2836954/stams-crusade.html ].”

Neither Stam nor Atkinson could be reached for comment.

Copyright © 2013 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/14/paul-stam-sexism-knitting_n_3757569.html [with comments]

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