UPDATED: Who’s got next? Ashley Landess to visit Dutch Fork High
February 5, 2009
In recent weeks, you’ve read about several elected officials visiting Dutch Fork High School teacher Kelly Payne’s civics class. Most recently, Representative Nikki Haley , myself , House Speaker Bobby Harrell , Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom and also Attorney General Henry McMaster , have fielded questions and talked about the issues and challenges facing our state.
As the kids say on the basketball courts, who’s got next?
Ashley Landess, President of the South Carolina Policy Council, will be visiting with the students on Wednesday, February 11th.
In a state where females are scarce in elected office and equally scarce in the “political power circles”, Ashley ranks near the top of the “Who’s Who” in our state.
Since 1986 the South Carolina Policy Council Education Foundation has brought together civic, community and business leaders from all over our state to discuss innovative policy ideas that advance the principles of limited government and free enterprise. The Policy Council’s headquarters has served as the meeting place for groups from classroom teachers to our state’s top CEO’s, who share the goal of encouraging a positive environment in which South Carolina families can thrive, work and raise children.
No other think tank in South Carolina can match the Policy Council’s success in assembling the top national and state experts on taxes, education, environmental policy, health care and numerous other issues. That ability to bring new ideas to the forefront, lead the policy debate and create a broad base of support for sensible reform is what makes our organization the leader in turning good ideas into good state policy.
I recently got to know Ashley this summer when we spent time, along with Representative Haley, Governor Sanford and others, educating the state of the importance of accountability in state government. We have had success in recent passage of a House Rule for more roll-call voting but we’ll continue to push for a law to be passed. There are several other reforms our state needs, many have been talked about for years in state government but it takes work to get these reforms passed by our legislature.
In upcoming weeks look for Steve Benjamin (February 24th), Representative Chip Huggins (February 27th)and also State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Jim Rex (scheduled for February 25th), to pay a visit to this “must stop” in political circles.
These students are not only very bright and aware of the issues; but also, they understand the significance and importance of having state officials visit their school and classroom. The students know they are very fortunate to have a teacher like Mrs. Payne and also have state officials take time from their busy schedules to help educate (and prepare) tomorrow’s leaders about public service in our state.
Comments
6 Responses to “UPDATED: Who’s got next? Ashley Landess to visit Dutch Fork High”
Got something to say?
Rep. Ballentine,
I am glad to see that Ms. Payne will be having Dr. Rex speak to her class soon. I was beginning to wonder why all the politicos who speak to her class were Republicans. That would not be fair to her students. I became a Republican in high school up in Spartanburg County (over ten years ago now), but only because my Social Studies teacher and Youth-in-Governmen advisor brought in an equal number of D’s & R’s, presented both sides of political arguments, and then let me decide for myself.
Thank you for all that you do!
Richard M.
Lexington
Richard,
I’m also glad Dr. Rex has agreed to speak with the students. Like you said, it helps balance things out.
Previous local speakers have been me (who represents the area) and Rep. Haley (whom I worked with on transparency and other issues). Rep. Chip Huggins may speak soon (he represents Lexington/Richland School District Five, too).
The other officials who have spoken were statewide officers and Dr. Rex is the only Democrat statewide office holder.
I will certainly reach out to other local Democrat officials if they would like to come share their thoughts as well with the class. Perhaps Rep. James Smith, Rep. Anton Gunn, or others may want to speak too.
Thanks for commenting. I hope you’ll visit often.
Dear Mr. Richard,
We can totally see what you are saying if that were the case! When Mr. Harrell and Mr. McMaster spoke they did not even discuss their political views on issues that we have been studying in our classroom. They discussed their job descriptions and why it is so important for the “next generation” to become active in their community and care about our great state and country.
Respectfully,
M.L.
[...] State Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom, State Attorney General Henry McMaster. Coming soon are Ashley Landess (SC Policy Council) , Representative Chip Huggins (R-Lexington), State Superintendent Dr. Jim Rex, Steve Benjamin, [...]
I think Mrs. Payne is coming up with great speakers for my class. Richard Eckstrom, Ashley Landess, and Henry McMaster are all great people for our class. We get to see different views in South Carolina government and what thoughts they have on how things such as our economy and our legislators are keeping up. I look forward to later guest speakers coming to our class.
Thank you, Ms. Landess and Bryan Cox for coming to speak to our class yesterday. Ya’ll both encouraged us to speak up and to stand for what we believe in and I really took that to heart. Thanks again for coming to speak to us; everyone enjoyed it!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Van Meter