Mr. Smith Vs. The Media
According to State Rep. James Smith, South Carolina’s public schools are the last, “best hope” for thousands of minority children stuck in a so-called “Corridor of Shame.”
Smith said as much in an exquisitely-written (yet hopelessly wrong-headed and naive) opinion column published in this morning’s edition of La Socialista (a.k.a. The State newspaper).
“For the more than 226,000 South Carolina children living in poverty, in conditions most of us can’t imagine, strong public schools, which we all fund and participate in, are the one best hope for a different life,” Smith wrote.
There’s just one problem with his argument – it’s a big lie.
Strong public schools indeed should be a part of the plan to provide poor, minority children with “hope for a different life,” but our public schools are not strong, and in spite of massive funding increases over the last four years they have utterly failed to fulfill their obligation to parents, students and teachers alike.
And given the growing achievement gap in this state between white and black students, this chronic institutional failure (oppression) is particularly pronounced on the very demographic groups which Rep. Smith callously uses as pawns in his argument.
Sadly, this sort of truth-averse reaction from blind big government types is not at all surprising.
It’s precisely the mantra State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex continues to advance despite his Department’s willing perpetuation of our state’s worst-in-the-nation status with respect to educating our children.
Yet while Smith and his co-conspirators over at the Ministry of Failure and La Socialista ’s ivory tower continue to make excuses and feed us the age-old fallacy that we haven’t been adequately funding our public schools, it appears other news outlets in this state are beginning to see the light and echo what we’ve been saying all along – namely that all the money we’ve dumped into our current system simply hasn’t worked.
In fact, our friends over at The Voice had a great post yesterday recapping reactions from four major daily newspapers, outlets which appear to have had the scales lifted from their eyes.
You can read those excerpts – which came from all corners of the state – by clicking here.
Thankfully, the trite anti-school choice attacks which establishment apologists like Rep. Smith are peddling aren’t finding the same willing audience in the press that they used to, although we have no doubt that the editors at La Socialista will remain in a state of permanent blindness on this issue.
Rep. Smith is a fine man – a returning war hero whose service to country we should all be proud of – but his ignorant subservience to this state’s failed education establishment is more than just an intellectually-dishonest institutional misdirection, it’s precisely what is prohibiting these children from realizing “a better life.”
We commend our friend James for fighting to promote freedom on the other side of the world, but until he recognizes the value of academic freedom here at home, he will continue to be an enabler of the status quo that is keeping these hundreds of thousands of children exactly where it wants them.
UPDATE – The Voice has a new post up this afternoon on Smith’s column, as well.
Comments
By Not Impressed on September 4th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Isn’t it fairly common knowledge that Mr. Smith sends his kids to private school?
By fitsnews on September 4th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
We weren’t gonna go there, but yeah, that’s true.
And we don’t begrudge him for exercising his personal choice as a parent, we begrudge him for denying that same option to parents who are “less fortunate.” Or black. Or just not happy w/ the school they’re zoned for.
The fact that Smith (or the governor) sends his kids to private schools is their business, but it is interesting that in Sanford’s case it’s front page news and in Smith’s case it’s “not a story.”
Of course that’s not Smith’s fault … but his failure to support the same choice for other parents is another story.
By Vagabond on September 4th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Rep. Smith states…”when in reality, our best schools are the equal of any schools anywhere.”
Oh, really? SC’s highest-scoring district was York 4 (Fort Mill) at 1053 versus Chapel Hill in North Carolina at 1179. That means our state’s best district was more than 120 points worse than North Carolina’s best. Forget our schools equaling those anywhere; we can’t even compete inside the Carolinas.
By fitsnews on September 4th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Vagabond-
That’s not the only stat he completely misrepresents – his figure of 58 cents per dollar going to the classroom is sourced to (wait for it) the State Department of Education.
No credible analysis comes even close to that, and the real number is more like 44 cents on the dollar.
-FITSNews
By Girl Sailor on September 4th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Smith should spend less time fawning on the system and take some time to consider the 50% of students that are dropping out before graduation. His editorial was nothing more than a blind thumbs up to all the incompetent bureaucrats waddling around at the Rutledge Building. Parents have got to be getting sick of all the “forget the numbers, our schools are great” swill. Smith may be a patriot, but where’s the insight?
By Voice for School Choice on September 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Representative James Smith must have taken a play straight from Jim Rex’s play book: run fast and loose with the numbers, and avoid facts outright when they don’t make your case.
Public schools spend a mere 44 cents per dollar on instruction. That is a figure issued by the State’s Budget and Control Board. It is part of the annual Local Government Finance Report that analyzes all the spending by cities, counties and school districts. A copy can be found on the Office of Research and Statistics’ webpage.
Representative Smith finds this number inconvenient. Instead, he looks to the overly rosy reporting of the State Department of Education. Naturally, their numbers paint a more optimistic picture, claiming that 58 percent of spending reaches the classroom. While this is still a shockingly low and ineffective percentage, it is based on allocation coding, not on actual spending.
In fact, the State Department of Education has a sad and sordid history of distorting the numbers. The policy magazine “Education Weekly†recently criticized the Department for misreporting its graduation by more than 20 percent! South Carolina Bureaucrats had claimed that 77.1 percent of students complete public high school but the real number is a meager 55.6 percent.
Smith also argues that the “best†schools in South Carolina are competitive with any school in the Country. What he does not mention is that even the state’s top SAT scores (from the Rock Hill/Fort Mill District) are, on average, 121 points behind scores from public schools in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Still, Smith got one point right: quality education is the key to social and economic development. It is the basis of developing individual autonomy and responsible citizenship. Sadly, Smith fails to subsequently recognize that so important a task cannot be left to the government alone. As we have seen with the popular HOPE and LIFE scholarships, a public good can be delivered by both state and private schools.
CITATIONS
44 cents per dollar – “Local Government Finance Reportâ€
http://www.ors.state.sc.us/economics/economics.asp
first tab (“state summaryâ€) divide cell T156 by T158
Graduation rate misreporting – “Diplomas Countâ€
http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2008/06/05/index.html
SAT scores –
http://thevoiceforschoolchoice.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/sat-but-our-schools-did-well-right/
YORK 4 – FORT MILL (1,053) versus CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO (1179)
state issued scores:
SC: http://www.thestate.com/education/story/502681.html
NC: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/reporting/sat/2008
By Not only that on September 4th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I hear the 44 cents on the dollar for instruction figure all the time but I’ve never found a study that says it. If it’s true, source it.
By I. G. Reilly on September 4th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
44 cents is the Budget and Control Board number for acutal money spent (look up the SC local government finance report)
James’ 58 cents figure (which still sucks) is the coding used by the state department of education (look up their in$ite numbers on the website)
By baker on September 4th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Will’s bringing it pretty heavy today.
Once again, the assertion is that choice is going to help the “blacks” and the “less fortunate.” Why, then, did PPIC not guarantee anything to our poorest families? And how are poor, struggling students going to be guaranteed access to private schools with admission standards based on test scores and grades? And how are we going to transport the poorest kids to these private schools, particularly in rural communities where the one private school may be located 20 miles away?
I can assume that Will’s intentions are good here. But the list of practical problems goes on and on and on.
The 44 cents deal, if I remember correctly, came out of the Policy Council. To get that number, they had to include librarians (they serve an academic function, don’t they?), guidance counselors (required by state law), and one-time building projects. It was pretty absurd “study,” but it’s been cited over and over again by folks on the right.
Finally, on the topic of whether students from our top public schools can and do compete with students from everywhere….well, they can and they do. A simple SAT comparison isn’t sufficient evidence of much of anything. But we have schools that offer 20 or more Advanced Placement classes, sending students off each year to many of the nation’s top colleges and universities.
None of this diminishes the very real problems in our society and schools. And we, of course, need to vigorously seek out and implement workable, sustainable solutions. But the notion that we have no public schools that offer truly competitive programs on a regional or national level is incorrect.
By Not only that on September 4th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I don’t know (because I can’t find the Budget and Control Board number I.G. Reilly is referring to), but I suspect that in order to get to 44 cents, you have to include not only libraries and librarians and guidance counselors and so on but also capital debt service, which the Department of Education’s InSite figures don’t include. Of course, we could always hold class in the soybean field.
By I. G. Reilly on September 4th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
It has gone up – to a shocking 45 cents per dollar –
see “Local Government Finance Reportâ€
http://www.ors.state.sc.us/economics/economics.asp
first tab (“state summaryâ€) divide cell T156 by T158
this is all “instructional spending”
By Jimbo on September 4th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Baker, the point is this. Affluent parents already have a choice…they can afford to send their children to private schools. Parents in poverty cannot afford private school. On top of that, the children of parents living in poverty are more likely to be attending the worst schools in the state.
Vouchers, for lack of a better word, attempt to even the playing field for all kids in S.C. Poor parents of children in failing schools should have the option of taking the money that is spent on that child elsewhere.
I have heard the argument that there are no private schools from which parents can choose in poorer areas of the state. Then is the answer to not give vouchers a try?? WHY NOT TRY IT TO SEE IF IT WILL WORK? What if the voucher system creates a market for new private schools? What have we got to lose? There are other areas of the U.S. in which much more money in thrown into public education with little if any improvement.
Governments, where ever they may be, by their nature, are inefficient. Where there is no competition, there is no incentive to get more bang for the buck. This is not a condemnation of government, it is just the way it is.
South Carolina’s children are a valuable resource. Thousands of children are being wasted in our current education system. We can do better.
By BIN News Editorial Staff on September 5th, 2008 at 1:44 am
What a great editorial exposing the voucher scam. Get over it sic(k) willie and start finding a new source of revenue. The voucher scam is dead. Howie and his voucher vulchers are exposed. You’re part of the “big lie.” Which makes you a liar. A big liar. But, who don’t know that…
You and the Voice for School Scams!
BIN News
Flair and Balanced
By Anon on September 5th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
The school choice crown seems pretty worked up about being “exposed.” That must be why SCRG has stopped pumping out brazillions of pages of damning information about the low quality of public education available in south kackalacky…oh yeah, they haven’t.
By baker on September 5th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Jimbo — Your reasonable post deserve an intelligent response (I’ll try…).
I do think “market forces” could create some opportunity, some movement in the education industry. In particular, I think churches with classroom, kitchen and gymnasium facilities could house start-up schools with voucher/scholarship/tax credit money.
Beyond that, however, it seems awfully tricky to me. Tuition is only a portion of what allows schools to operate. Most private schools were founded with large donations toward buildings, and many have endowments that support operations. I would assume all this is the reality at places like Heathwood Hall or Hammond Academy — and their tuition is WAY HIGHER than what the state would likely give out in a voucher or tax credit.
Maybe there are storefronts in abandoned strip malls that would work. I’m not sure that’s a great option, particularly if you want to provide physical education, arts instruction, etc. And in many of our rural communities, I would think that there are few churches that could even handle being used as a school.
Transportation would still be a huge issue.
The “why not try it?” approach suggests that, well, we can’t do any worse. I disagree. While things are bad, OF COURSE they can be worse. A 50% or whatever dropout rate could be an 80% dropout rate; low test scores could be even lower. So on and so forth.
Things can be worse, and so a risk in throwing money into the “marketplace” is in creating a “skimming of the top” scenario where the lowest-achieving students have no tangible new options but their public schools do end up losing money.
I don’t think I’m arguing from an ideological point of view, and I am not saying that your ideas aren’t in some ways compelling. But I think that in our state there are more practical solutions.
By Nick on September 6th, 2008 at 12:10 am
My favorite line in “The State” from his piece was “maybe SC does have sons & daughters” or something to that effect(I don’t have the article in front of me). Anyway…my children are MY CHILDREN…and I want the state to keep its dirty & incompetent hands off of them. We are homeschooling and I don’t appreciate having to pay for a “service” I’ll never use. Obligation to my fellow man has nothing to do with it. I would rather choose when and how to contribute to my fellow man rather than having it imposed on me by the state.
By Not only that on September 6th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Wow, Nick. How very enlightened. And compassionate. Not to mention practical.
Mr. Smith also said something in his column to the effect that “reasonable people” can see the flaw in the logic of choosing not to contribute to important public services, like schools and police. Guess that lets you off the hook.
Probably a good thing you educate your kids at home. I wouldn’t want mine exposed to that kind of knuckle-dragging thinking anyway.
By Nick on September 6th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
“Reasonable people” isn’t an argument….just like the non argument you just posted. You can find a different definition of “reasonable” by simply asking everyone the same question.
I’m certainly glad my children won’t be exposed to yours either…so certainly we are both happy except that you’ve managed to steal my money to provide a sub-standard education for your kids….probably because your too self involved to give a damn about giving them a decent education.
Oh well…all things will be born out in the end.
By forced to contribute on September 10th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I suggest that you look at getting rid of the micromanagers in administration. (School and district levels) They all need to come up with projects to keep themselves in jobs. They all involve having others waste time jumping through hoops. They are the ones that **** up all the learning. They won’t let teachers teach. They feel they have to micro-manage everything in every classroom by training and mandating any and all new and recycled teaching methods.
Teachers are trained professionals. Most teachers know exactly what to do and how to do it. There is a administration at Shell Point Elementary in Beaufort County (Yes, the silly video district) who is a holy terror. She is destroying teachers and children one mandate, meeting, and threat at a time. She had teachers taking that workshop in the video and probably forced them to go. She is a corridor of shame all on her own.
The districts need to encourage principals and district personnnel to bug out and just offer support. Don’t take every minute teachers have to force new and old ideas to be jammed down their throats, never give them time to prepare and yet expect perfection. Quit wasting money on crappy in-service, after-school and planning time “time-wasting”. We love our students. We are professionals. Let us prescribe their “medicine” since we know them best. Free the teachers to be treated as adults with graduate degrees and beyond. Then, our children will grow,learn and thrive!
By Nick on September 12th, 2008 at 9:34 am
“Forced to contribute”. It’s really refreshing to see that you don’t prescribe to the “pack” mentality of those within government education. I am glad you freely admit to the problems within the state run education system.
That being said, let me offer some points for you to reflect on:
I believe you when you say you know how to teach and don’t need the government administraters mandating what/how to do it. You have a choice in this- you can at any point interview with many of the private schooling institutions in the state and get yourself a job at a place that appreciates your skills.
What is the cost of this? You might(or not) make less money and for sure you won’t have your cushy health insurance that’s better than everyone in private industry(that pays for your current cushy health plan)…and you’ll also lose your cushy retirement package…also paid for by everyone else working in private industry. Are you willing to make that sacrifice for the kids you claim to love?
The benefits: You become an actual productive citizen of society instead of one of the leeches on the neck of society….actually helping and improving the lives of children because you now work in an environment that gives you the ability to succeed/fail on your own merits. It might actually raise your self esteem and sense of worth/value.
The choice is yours…but the reality is that the government system you are now currently in is permanantly broken and getting worse…so your complaints will go unoticed and uncared about.
By athenian on September 12th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Nice blog. In Georgia we’ve got four public school districts with a higher avg. than South Carolina’s best district. (Trion, Fulton, Cherokee, and Oconee). So SC’s best district comes in third in a three way race with the bordering states.
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