NC teacher’s speech to committee helps keep jobs

RALEIGH, N.C. — Chalk one up for people who say one person can make a big difference in petitioning big government.

Durham schoolteacher Gina Frutig’s impassioned 2-minute plea to protect public education shook up a public hearing by House budget-writers last week.

House Democrats said the speech by the single mother of two and fourth-grade teacher had a big influence on lawmakers assembling the budget heard Wednesday by the full House Appropriations Committee. Frutig was told a few weeks ago she won’t get rehired this fall because of state spending reductions.

House Democrats say they were already looking at a budget plan designed to protect more teacher jobs. Budget-writer Rep. Doug Yongue of Scotland County said she provided a real face to fix real problems.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)