TUG-OF-WAR OVER ROTTEN APPLE …
There’s a battle brewing between South Carolina’s legislative and executive branches of government over the state’s worst-in-the-nation government-run schools.
Last fall, the S.C. Supreme Court ruled that the Palmetto State’s government-run education system (an effective monopoly in most corners of the state) was not fulfilling its constitutional duty to provide a “minimally adequate” education in poor, rural districts. Surprisingly, the court also stated – explicitly – what we’ve been saying for years, namely that throwing more money at this failed system has not worked.
How did the S.C. General Assembly respond to the court’s ruling? Easy: By throwing more money at the same failed system.
Oh, and ignoring proven reforms like parental choice …
We’ve addressed the constitutionality of this ruling previously (arguing against the court) but there is no denying the conclusion reached by the justices regarding government-run “education” in South Carolina.
If anything, they didn’t go far enough …
“It goes without saying South Carolina’s government-run schools are not ‘minimally adequate,’” we wrote. “They are totally inadequate – despite receiving billions upon billions of dollars in new money over the past few decades.”
Now the S.C. Supreme Court is attempting to impose a deadline of February 1 – at which time the S.C. General Assembly is supposed to present its plan for addressing the ruling.
Legislative leaders are having none of that, though …
“Arbitrary deadlines that seek to hijack the legislative process and meaningless approval from an unrealistic super-panel will not reform South Carolina’s education delivery system,” S.C. Speaker of the House Jay Lucas said in a statement. “Achieving actual improvement requires extensive study and input from those most familiar with the issues.”
Lucas and liberal S.C. Senate president Hugh Leatherman have filed a motion before the high court asking it to reconsider its latest ruling.
“The court’s attempt to overstep its judicial authority further complicates the lawmaking process,” Lucas said. “More importantly, it negates the significant progress made by the House Education Task Force over the last ten months. Every child in every part of our state deserves access to a 21st century education. Because we must preserve the diligent work already completed by our task force, we think it is imperative that the Supreme Court vacate their most recent order and remove themselves from the legislative process.”
Our thoughts?
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: Until South Carolina’s leaders – in all three branches of government – recognize the futility of pumping more money into a failed monopoly, there will never be real reform.
From our latest treatment of this issue …
If our state ever hopes to achieve real economic progress (as opposed to bribing companies to come here with your tax dollars), then South Carolina’s future generations can no longer be held hostage by our failed “one size fits none” government education system. That means our leaders must – at long last – start putting the needs of individual children first, not continue bowing down to the bureaucrats holding all of us back.
Lawmakers must expand school choice. Dramatically. And make it part of permanent state law.
Only then will be begin to see the sort of academic gains that money clearly couldn’t buy …
Sadly, our guess is the state’s liberal mainstream media – which has always been hostile to parental choice – will continue focusing on the political battle between the legislative and judicial branches.
That’s a shame …
It’s so obvious what needs to be done here. In fact it’s been obvious for years, but South Carolina’s leaders apparently prefer to continue playing games and wasting money rather than doing what works.
36 comments
In that 1/millionth of a second I thought …. Hillary’s vagina?
If that happened to me, I would never fess up.
What triggered the thought, big and bad and costs mucho money?
— one of those unsolicited thoughts when the neurons catch the static, I guess…..
I am glad to heard it was a neuron misfire, I thought you were going nursing home bad ass on us.
Well, sort of close, but when something ails me that I haven’t previously experienced before, I discuss it with a retired nurse who shared a practice with her doctor/surgeon husband. She did tell me a few months ago that “You’re the kind of patient that makes doctors and nurses quit the profession!”
I think Henry likes the pictures more than the articles. It’s not like FITS is Playboy. Hell, Playboy isn’t Playboy anymore.
I do save a lot of fotos – Mace, Taylor, Bessinger, and so forth — some of them are really good… today I like the dancing pigs/ tomorrow it’ll be my desktop background……
Dude, that’s pretty gross. Now Huma – – – –
Not enough grey fuzzy mold around it.
Pleeeeze, Lord, let me get that image out of my mind before dinner tonight..!!
I would be surprised if she had one. Hard to connect anything that is wonderful about a woman, to her. She is a Disgrace – and an embarrassment – to her gender, like so many men-hating Democrat women are.
PS: Shifty, when you go off-the-cuff, it’s funny. The cut and paste Bullshit is not good for you. You’re better than that.
Thanks, I do a lot of pasting from my collection if it remotely fits(?) — but some of it that’s appropriate for youngsters I hope is shared .
Aside from the locker room talk amongst you menfolk, I will agree she is a disgrace to the gender. Man-hating women are most unappealing to both genders.
If Sic put all of her sins in one article it would take 8 hours just to read it….
Must be a big payday at the Folks’ house. First the check from carpetbagger Davis for pimping his Jasper port deal and now the big check from the voucher scam industry. No more tube steaks for dinner.
Instead of having just a run-of-the-mill average failure in public education, we now have a run-of-the-mill expensive failure in public education.
Nothing like progress.
Parents need to be making more decisions and open to more choices in our government run education system.
As SC’s corrupt, payday-grubbing State Legislature ripped down patriots’ flag with NO vote by voters and then brazenly dared the voters to ask why
The SCEA union-hack edumakation system collapsed upon itself–all that South Carolinians had left was the best legislature money can buy !!!
Is it just me, or does that picture bear a striking resemblance to Nikki’s face?
Press two white chiclets into it side by side and you get a lot closer.
Could be anyone but a staffer.
If SC could eliminate ALL Democrat-voting school districts from the state’s education system…we may have the TOP performing students in the nation – or close to it.
That’s the TRUTH FITSNews will NOT tell you, because he’s a drone of the pack-think liberals, and their indoctrination squads. He knows no truth and would not tell you if he did because he’s in their pocket.
Hate the Media, the untruths, and the Status Quo? Then you HATE FITSNews.
Not since “Briggs v. Elliott” aka Brown v. Topeka has judicial interference in education ever done anything good.
Until the school districts in the corridor of shame quit hiring inadequate teachers and administrators, nothing is going to change. Run over to Ridgeland, Estill or Allendale and talk with some of the teachers. Many – not all – could not use correct English/grammar if their lives depended on it. There are too many teachers with those South Carolina State Masters and PhD degrees who just cannot teach. This is not meant to be racist, but it is a fact. Until somebody faces that fact, then nothing will change. Whale Branch figured it out – without Tom Davis’ help – and is hiring decent teachers.
Whites get their watered-way-down doctorates from NOVA Southeastern via “distance learning” and local “clusters” (I kid you not about the name; they are almost pyramid schemes).
Colleton County got rid of a PhD from SC State and her entourage all driving leased Cadillacs – and Allendale County hired them right away. “It’s good for the local economy,” was the rationale for hiring somebody who woulf be creative with those pesky fiscal guidelines regarding district money. Don’t believe it? Come on down to Allendale County. Don’t worry about running into Molly – I’m really a Toal Democrat – Spearman. She will not show her face in Alllendale County and try to straighten anything out. She learned that from Inez.
I had an experience with an Allendale agency – once – where I could not complete my consulting contract because of pettiness and other crap between two black women who claimed to be “in charge” — hah! Those folks down there were running around like they were in a cesspool – and I don’t they have ever improved.
I wish all you folks in here would list the names of all government run programs that work and are not full of waste and fraud! I will be waiting.
Charter schools are a good option for improving education. Parents select the BOD and have a say in how the school is run. There is much more autonomy and less big government involved. Furthermore, even if there is less money the outcome is better for the students. They may not have fancy electives like violin, dance, or ceramics art, but those are not considered core classes
yes..all charter school all the answer..uh well..
http://www.salon.com/2014/10/02/the_great_charter_school_rip_off_finally_the_truth_catches_up_to_education_reform_phonies/
The problem is in the colleges of education…and, not just SC State’s.
I’d like to know of the alternatives for schools in far flung rural SC where many of the parents are under educated and/or do not seem to care for the educational process except as a glorified child care.
Outlaw the Democrat Party, and implement a strong moral outrage campaign against Liberalism, Communism and Socialism. And also justly prosecute all Democrats as if they were Republicans.
And you may see A LOT of healing, progress and prosperity in this nation, Under God.
“…throwing more money at this failed system has not worked.”
When did we try that?
yeash Mr. Rich I stills Loves u and your Yankee money.
PS. How is the hair growing going?
The concept that “Parental Choice,” better educates our kids is just plain bull shit!
You only have to look at Charlotte, NC to see how Parental Choice can devastate a school system. The Mecklenburg public schools are under funded disasters. Because, all the money is going to private schools. If you can pay the $10,000 plus it costs per year to go to the private schools like Country Day, you get an education roughly equal to South Carolina’s public schools in Lexington District 5. If you don’t have the money, your child goes to the grossly underfunded Charlotte public schools. Known more for violence than education.
Parental Choice destroys public school systems. No public money or tax credits should be given to private schools: EVER!!! If you want to send your kids to a private school fine: just don’t send me the bill for it.