Comments on: Not Enough Lifeboats

By: Representative Schizo | FITSNews For Now

Representative Schizo | FITSNews For Now — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:39:55 +0000

[...] – May 23, 2008 – Of all the vocal opponents of parental choice, S.C. Rep Carl Gullick is by far the loudest and most obnoxious … in fact he recently [...]

By: Deb O'Nare

Deb O'Nare — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:20:15 +0000

” Private School Grad,”

There is an accountability system in private schools…parents. You might have been receiving a insufficient education at the private school you attended, but your parents had the ability to pull you out if they didn’t approve. Why they didn’t excercise that right is their problem. Your educational experience in private school is clearly not representative. Private schools in South Carolina consistently outstrip public schools in academics, and they manage to do it just fine with parents acting as accountability. There are obviously exceptions, but by and large it has been highly effective.

By: Private School Grad

Private School Grad — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 05:53:38 +0000

As a private school grad, I can honestly say that the only scam in this whole ordeal are the private schools. My parents paid thousands of dollars (in the early 90’s) for me to be taught Chemistry by a DHEC employee, Algebra by a former insurance agent, Calculus by a hardware store employee, and English from a former homemaker who had an associate degree from I think Lander.

Fortunately, I realized the scam in this joke of an education, and took weekend classes to get a better education. But the fact of the matter is that there is no accountability in private schools– NONE!

And yes, while our public schools are failing, they have at least some accountability. Problems in our system cannot be solved by throwing money at the situation, nor can it be solved by taking money from it. Problems can be solved by going to the teachers and parents and asking them “What is the problem in these schools?” Notice I did not mention the administrators. In these failing districts, the administrators ARE the problem. They keep padding their wallets with taxpayers money– thats is where the accountability should be.

By: G.L.

G.L. — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:42:39 +0000

The intelligence level of some of you writing on here astounds me. This amendment was not Put Parents in Charge, it was not even a real voucher plan (which I would not support). It was simply filling in the obvious gaps in this plan which are that the best schools are going to be full and low income residents won’t be able to afford private schools. What would you on the SCEA and SC School Boards Association’s payroll do to make up for this? And before you say it, I won’t buy fix the failing schools because y’all have been going to do that since Dick Riley and haven’t.

By: An interested observer

An interested observer — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 02:14:22 +0000

I’ll tell you who will benefit from vouchers. The children of South Carolina. Parents will actually get to decide what school will work best for their children and will be able to place them there. Their children won’t have to continue to be stuck in failing schools. Don’t tell me that the education establishment of South Carolina knows what is best for our children. As a parent of 2 children I can guarantee that I know what my children need educationally far better than the education bureaucracy does. Their plan as carried out has given us a last place ranking for achievement. Latest technology and gyms are not a true measure of academic achievement. Parents are the ones responsible for their children and overall their choice of a school for their child cannot be worse than what has been given to them in the current system. Schools that don’t measure up will have to change or close.

By: Sasha

Sasha — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 22:36:47 +0000

Snake oil is right. Who stands to benefit from “choice vouchers?? Not the children of SC. But, I do see tons of new “Christian” schools and private schools just waiting by sidelines, salivating….ready to receive those funds so they can give those children a “top notch” education. ahhhh the metal buildings, and used mobile units scattered behind churches in around SC. No need for the latest technology or gyms. They’ll line the kids up and take them for a hike each day for their PE lessons, and feed them PB&J sandwich with their cartons of milk. mmmmm Excellence in Education, but forgiven with sprinklings of Bible lessons here and there. Ahhhhh the nicer buildings behind those mega churches. You know the ones…… the ones with the wealthy ministers who drive those fine cars. And, this really makes it easier down the road. If you endoctinate people as small children, you don’t have to spend so much time telling folks how to vote on Sundays. Nope. Instead, you can spend more time on Sunday offering plate time, and “special” offerings time. What these people want to do to SC’s children is downright sinful. It is blasphemy. Really, people…….What would Jesus do? I don’t think he’d approve of us segregating our schools, under the guise of “School Choice” and “Vouchers” , and giving the children of SC less than what they deserve. South Carolinians, wake up!!! Take back your state from these people before it is too late. Don’t allow us to be the laughing stock of the nation. Show them that SC has a backbone, and that we love our children, and our schools. Of course, if they pass this bill allowing guns onto our school campuses with our children, and people get killed……well, they will then be poised to say, “See, our schools really are bad places and we need to give SC vouchers to protect the little children”. We need protection from our elected leaders, who are pawns for wealthy out of state business men who believe SC citizens are ignorant. This is my home. Wake up SC!

By: ChooseChildrenFirst

ChooseChildrenFirst — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:01:28 +0000

Thanks Hack, good point. The Wolf is trying to “help” the children! Uhh, the sheep. And the regurgitated political rhetoric here flows like, well, like regurgitated political rhetoric. It’s not even very original. :)

As you pointed out there is an elephant in the room in the form of racism. And those who ignore or deny it (watch for them here) are very uninformed or just plain ain’t telling the truth.

There is also the 500 pound gorilla of poverty that is sitting on the elephant’s back. Yes, poverty! Right here in S.C. You don’t have to look hard to find it. Unless you wear blinders.

Vouchers will not fix anything. Voucher plans just distract from honest efforts to help our schools. A voucher plan in any flavor is a scam, and the majority of voters and Legislators have shown that they know it.

It’s time to tell SCRG and the other snake oil salesmen to go peddle their junk elsewhere. S.C. isn’t buying it.

Someone may need to read this to Will. His head is still steaming from the recent voucher defeat.

By: An interested observer

An interested observer — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:37:09 +0000

All parents ought to be able to choose what school is best for their children and be able to send them there provided that they meet the admission standards of the school. Should a parent be penalized for sending his child to the school of his choice by having to pay tuition to a school plus school taxes? Absolutely not. South Carolina is doing such a poor job in educating its children now. Why not help a parent make an inestment in the future of South Carolina and our nation by helping him get his child into an excellent school of his choice even if it happens to be a private school? The current way things are being done is not working. Much of the blame has to lie at the feet of the teachers’ union which seems to be more concerned about preserving status quo, tenure, and more money aimed at this colossal failure called public education in South Carolina. Those who continue to do the same things the same way will get the same results. I fear for the children of South Carolina. It doesn’t seem like the folks in Columbia have the same concern. They have an election for which to prepare.

By: Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 13:26:32 +0000

It’s amazing that “real” school choice is being supported by the black caucus.

Jim Rex is a puppet for the machine. It’s a steam engine stuck in the industrial revolution days, but never the less it has a lot of money and power.

I am truly disgusted with Republicans in the house and senate. What is the purpose of them being there?

By: Slight of hand « Journalism Is For Rockstars

Slight of hand « Journalism Is For Rockstars — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 02:40:37 +0000

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