Priority One: Education
February 7, 2009
Ms. Lindsay Head’s first-grade class at Nursery Road Elementary
I am very fortunate to represent one of the best school districts in South Carolina: Lexington/Richland School District Five ! Every chance I get, I want to be involved in our classrooms and hear from our teachers, students, and parents.
Today I had an opportunity to visit with and read to Ms. Lindsay Head’s first-grade class at Nursery Road Elementary . While reading “Snow Day” to the students, I was very impressed when one young lady told me the girl in our story had “procrastinated” by not doing her homework and instead playing in the snow! Procrastinated? A first-grader? Yep! We have some very bright young children in our area and every time I’m in the classroom I always walk away impressed.
As the son of an educator who taught for 30 years, I know first-hand how hard our teachers work to help prepare our leaders of tomorrow. While I was recently punished and stripped of my seat on the House Education and Public Works Committee, it does not mean I won’t be involved working towards improving education for all the students of our state.
Once again this year, I’m sure legislation on “choice” (private and/or public) will come to the House floor for debate. I’d love to hear your thoughts as I plan to continue to push for us to do something – anything – to try to improve education in our state and be sure all students have a shot at fulfilling their potential.
Also, if you’re the parent of a high school senior in our area, be sure your son/daughter contacts his/her school’s guidance counselor about the 2009 Ballentine Scholarships! Packets have been mailed and hopefully posters displayed. More information (2008, earlier) can be found here .
Tonight I want to say a special THANKS to every teacher in our district who work hard each and every day to make a difference in our children’s lives!
Comments
4 Responses to “Priority One: Education”
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Nathan,
VeeVee and I share your interests in education, public and or private and your understanding that it is the bedrock to the Real Change we need in the U.S. Regarding all peoples. From that standpoint we stand ready to support you and your efforts to enact real change in public/private education partnerships with our hands in pocket not just in voice.
Vee & Jeffrey Sewell
Vee and I will no longer support any candidate for state or congressional office that does not get the simple fact that the education of all our children and young adults is centrist to our efforts to change the state our state. It effects all we do in our efforts to improve upon the quality of life, and the economic environment in South Carolina.
[...] and universities for next year, be sure he/she knows to ask the school guidance counselor about the 2009 Ballentine Scholarships . $1,000 to University of South Carolina, $1,000 to Clemson University, $1,000 to Winthrop [...]
Hey, Nathan!
You know you have our support, and those of us in the classrooms of Lex/Rich 5 know we have yours. There are going to have to be some changes to the way we educate our children. The economy is forcing some of those changes, but there are others we must look at, like reducing the number of school districts we have. It is a waste of limited financial resources for a state as small as South Carolina to have as many school districts as we do. I know that is not a popular sentiment by many, but it is rapidly becoming necessary for us to reexamine our practices. We have to make sure that every child in SC has access to the type of education we provide in Lex/Rich 5. “Haves” and :Have Nots” should not exist in our state supported school systems. In order for our state to succeed, EVERY child has to have access to the best our state has to offer. Public schools need some of the flexibility enjoyed by private schools and private schools need the accountability required of public schools before any public money/resources are shared!
Thanks for keeping us in the know, Nathan! We are praying for you and your family. Keep up the fight!–TMD