Dillon SC: Sick Of Being “Punted” For Political Gain
Examples of solid journalism at liberal La Socialista (a.k.a. The State newspaper) are few and far between, but reporter Gina Smith hit one clear out of the park today with her story on a small S.C. town that’s sick and tired of politicians using its misfortune to score political points.
Dillon, S.C. – which represents the Northern anchor of the so-called “Corridor of Shame” – is now shaming politicians who exploit its status as an educational wasteland.
In fact, Dillon Mayor Todd Davis specifically called out a powerful Democratic Senator for injecting his city into a political debate with Gov. Mark Sanford.
From La Socialista:
Last week, Davis bristled when state Sen. John Land, D-Clarendon, challenged Republican Gov. Mark Sanford to halt his travels around the country, decrying the economic stimulus bill as wasteful, and spend some time in the needy parts of the Palmetto State, including Dillon and J.V. Martin.
“(Land) is absolutely playing political football with our town,” Davis said, adding that state lawmakers are guilty, too, for not stepping in to help rebuild the school.
Of course, the headline-grabbing spat between Davis and Land underscores a much bigger issue – the fact that exploiting Dillon’s “wasteland” status may not be helping the town in terms of creating and retaining jobs.
Dillon made international news last month when President Barack Obama mentioned the school – and recognized one of its students – in his State of the Union address.
That attention from Obama – who visited Dillion schools twice during his campaign – has taken Democratic PR practitioner Bud Ferillo’s “Corridor of Shame” strategy to a higher energy level, as corporate benefactors have sent donations of shampoo and deoderant to the city’s schools like some humanitarian aid mission to Rwanda.
The only question is whether or not the aim of Ferillo’s strategy – more money – can work.
Clearly it hasn’t in the past.
Also curious is the fact that Dillon’s school system is run by three state lawmakers – Senators Kent Williams and Dick Elliot along with Rep. Jackie Hayes, all of whom are Democrats.
It is the only local school system with such a structure.
Anyway, we don’t say this often but we highly recommend checking out today’s edition of La Socialista.
Smith’s story is a must-read …
WEB EXTRA
Gina Smith: Politicians Playing Football With School?
Comments
By Catherine on March 9th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Dillon has more problems that have lasted for generations, and there is nothing the internal citizens wish to do about it. Well, not the ones who have benefited politically and financially.
Look at their report card data. Why are there 3 individual districts, eating up 3 sets of administrative salaries for a school population of less than 6,400? None of the whopping 34 students who were able to take what passes for an AP course passed the AP exam. The poverty rate for the districts are above the state average of 73.58, but they are not all at the top. Our favorite Department of Ed has stopped producing the interesting statistics such as average salary by district that used to be available, but given the racial and economic lines of the districts, we can guess.
Dillon should be tired of being a football. But you nailed it that the power is in only a few hands — and I’m guessing they like it that way. People who have been there for different kinds of assistance can tell stories about the politics, and none of the stories are pleasant. We’ve let the individual districts, the legislative delegations, and minute numbers of citizens control our schools — are you still surprised that they’re awful?
By Earl Capps on March 9th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Money sent will be money wasted.
If the people there want a change, they will clean house politically and start demanding change in their communities and with their children. But responsibility is so much tougher to demand than more money.
By Jackie's the man on March 9th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Jackie Hayes has the power to change Dillon, but will not. I guess you know that the school board’s, are the only boards in the state that are not elected. They are appointed by the legislative delegation! Jackie is the only resident of Dillon County on the delegation. Hmmm…
But, the plot thickens. He is also the football coach of Dillon High School. So, he appoints the school board, who hires the superintendent, who hires the principal, who hires the football coach/AD. Do you really think that anyone in the Dillon County school’s tells Jackie Hayes no?
JV Martin was falling apart, but the high school had a state of the art weight facility for the football team.
The people of Dillon bring this on themselves when they keep electing Jackie Hayes. More money is not the answer.
By X on March 9th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Ben Bernanke = Federal Reserve Chair and Graduate of the Corridor of Shame!
By Ricky on March 9th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Where is Darla Moore in all of this? Isn’t she the richest woman in the state and kind of a “big deal”? I’m just thinking since she is from Lake City in the Pee Dee and always touting those roots and plans to make her state better–why doesn’t she just dump a ton of money into her beloved Pee Dee–maybe give them a new school or open some business there or whatever. She’d get a lot of media attention too.
By Pat Hendrix on March 9th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Gotcha, immoral for politicians to make a point by pointing to Dillion, but not blogs to do the same. Okay, got it.
Anywho, they not teach the meaning of irony in those fancy private schools?
By rooofus on March 9th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Hey, did’t President Abortion pledge $900 million to Hamas in Gaza? That money could’ve gone a long way in Dillon, dontcha think? Ya know, roads ‘n bridges and 100 plus-year-old school building renovations…
At least he’ll be popular at the shiite mosques…
By BIN News Editorial Staff on March 10th, 2009 at 12:20 am
sic(k) willie is good at distracting from the real issues. He pimps vouchers and is quick to attack those who do not pay himxxxxx (sorry) agree with him.
Guess that is why he attacks almost everyone.
sic(k) willie knows the real problems facing public education in SC include poverty, latent racism (blatant here on his blog), the host of social ills that follow poverty and racism, and an inadequate and unfair funding system.
And everyone knows our Legislature has wasted brazillions of our tax dollars defending the shameful “minimally adequate” standard.
But sic(k) willie still pimps Howie’s voucher scam along with his “bud” over at the Voice for Voucher Scams.
They both know vouchers would only leave those who need help the most even further behind.
They both know vouchers would do nothing to address the real problems facing public education and children.
If you really want to help all children call your Representative and Senator, and tell them to amend the S.C. Constitution to require a “high quality” education rather than a “minimally adequate” education.
BTW, everyone knows vouchers are dead in SC. And given the current economy they are really dead. Just ask Jakie. He’ll tell you.
Help All Children – Sign the Petition
http://www.goodbyeminimallyadequate.com
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By Pat Hendrix on March 10th, 2009 at 2:47 am
Roofus, not one cent is going to Hamas.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-demands-us-apology-for-spy-plane-collision-753151.html
Thanks for keeping it fact free as usual.
By lou on March 10th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Has anyone considered the Chief of the Federal Reserve is from DILLION????
By roofus on March 10th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Pat,
With all due respect, Hamas runs and literally owns Gaza at this time. It will be impossible to transfer $900 million to “Gaza” without Hamas getting a piece of the pie (despite what your journal of choice preaches). Corruption is rife, not just on Capitol Hill, but in the Mid-East as well, bub!
By Pedro on March 10th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Dillon? Pedro sez you never sausage a place.
By Pat Hendrix on March 10th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Right roofus, USAID, which will be allocating the money, will be forking over 900 billion to Hamas. And with Congress demanding that every dime be accounted for to ensure that Hamas doesn’t get “a slice of the pie” (by the way, that’s quit a deviation from your original statement that all 900 million was going to Hamas), I’m sure the State Department and USAID will be sleeping at the wheel.
Too bad Israel doesn’t have any allies on the Hill to make sure that doesn’t happen.
By rooofus on March 10th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
With “friends” like Hillary and Emanual “Ballerina” Rham, who needs enemies?
By Pat Hendrix on March 10th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Good stuff Roofus. Impressive counter argument – a woman that has a 100 percent rating from the Jewish lobby and a Jewish “ballerina” (you’re aware that Rham is jewish, right?) are enemies of Israel?
As usual, way to think it through.