Voters support S.C. public schools
By PAUL KROHNE Tuesday, November 11, 20082 comment(s) | Default | Large
In every American election, there is a message to government. Our choices send a clearer message in some years than others -- President Reagan in 1980, President Clinton in 1992, and this year, President-elect Barack Obama, who rode decisively to victory on America's impatience for change.
While South Carolina voters didn't join the presidential bandwagon, there is an equally clear mandate in this year's state polling that should not be missed in the excitement of the national elections.
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.
South Carolinians voted Nov. 4 on school funding referendums in six districts, totaling a near-record $933 million: Greenwood 52, Horry County, Lexington 1, Lexington-Richland 5, Marlboro County and Richland 2.
All six referendums passed -- a rare occurrence -- and they all also passed decisively. In Greenwood 52, according to unofficial totals, 72 percent of voters agreed to build a combination school for middle and high school grades. In Horry County, Marlboro County and Richland 2, school funding referendums passed by margins of nearly two to one, while building projects in the Lexington districts won support from more than 55 percent of voters.
The verdicts in these districts are notable for more than just unanimity and clarity. Combined with referendums passed in three additional districts earlier this year, voters have approved more than $1.2 billion in new funding for school facilities in 2008 alone -- the largest commitment to public education ever passed by voter referendum in our state within a single year.
That level of commitment to education would be remarkable in any economic climate, but it is all the more meaningful in today's environment. At a time when the tumultuous economy is by far our top concern, when governments are cutting spending, when families everywhere are watching costs and tightening budgets, education remains a priority that the public refuses to compromise.
The 2008 vote indicates that South Carolinians rightly see public education not as one among many desirable government expenses, but as the single most important long-term investment we can make in the future of our children, the vitality of our communities, the prosperity of our state.
In that view lie two important messages for lawmakers as they return to work in January.
First, dispense -- finally -- with the fruitless, distracting discussions about private school vouchers and tax credits that have distracted the education debate in our state for several years, thanks largely to the influence of wealthy outsiders and our governor's shortsighted ideology.
South Carolinians are done with this debate. They are investing in public education. They are committed to its success.
Second, confront head-on the daunting task of revising the state's funding formula for education. South Carolinians are clearly willing to fund the bricks and mortar needed for good schools. They also want good people and programs to fill those schools, providing decent opportunities for every child.
This year, the General Assembly should commit itself to revising the tax system, comprehensively, to reduce school reliance on sales taxes and provide stable, recurring, and locally-controlled sources of funding for education.
We should create a funding formula that updates the antiquated basic program, establishes the framework for a world-class education, and addresses the challenges of educating children with special needs -- gifted children, those with limited English proficiency, children from poverty.
We should fund more teachers, smaller class sizes, better access to technology, and universal pre-kindergarten.
Committing the resources needed to improve education may seem a tall order in tough economic times.
But there is no more important job for state government, and as this election shows, no clearer priority in the minds of South Carolina's voters.
Paul Krohne, Ed.D., is executive director of the South Carolina School Boards Association.
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rbrtsndr912 wrote on Nov 13, 2008 11:26 AM:
Why is it that we did have a better educational system in the 50's and 60's? No need to look any farther than the agenda. Look at the stuff that is being taught.
Why do the private schools excel? Why do the Obama's send their children to private schools in Chicago? Why are people criticized that send their childen to private school and want school choice? They know that public schools across the nation doesn't work. Bush tried with his unsuccesful program of "no child left behind" (by the way another program that the Democrat's could jump on him about the budget overrun) and that Obama has stated that he wants to pump even more money into.
Why is it that we expense money to build something new but we fail to expense money to maintain it? A building that may only be a few years old can look like it is 20 years old, why?
Why can't we model schools after sucessful programs instead of just replicating the same old stuff? (Here's a clue for you, the same reason that the auto industry is failing, can you spell unions). Well, we are going to keep getting the same old stuff as long as people keep giving them money.
Wise up, stop giving the money. Make them use the money that is given wisely. Demand that we have the same level of education that we had without all the computers etc. "
confisus_sum wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:37 AM: