Goodbye Minimally Adequate

When I was a student at Clemson, I was assigned to describe my philosophy of education. As a naive college student having led a sheltered life, I began by saying "As cliche as it might sound, I believe all children can learn." Now, with seven years of teaching experience in a variety of settings representing various socio-economic classes, I can honestly say that I still believe that to be true: ALL children CAN learn!

I grew up, as I know many of you did, in families and communities where an education was not only valued but expected. I attended good schools, had good teachers, and genuinely felt supported. Anything less than this would have been hard for me to imagine.

Sadly, what would have been a nightmare for me is a day-to-day reality for many students in parts of South Carolina. In fact, some school districts along I-95 through Jasper, Dillon, and Allendale counties have been given the unfortunate title of "Corridor of Shame." As you'll see in the video, some schools in the "Corridor of Shame" can't warm the building with heat, forcing children to wear coats and gloves in their classrooms. Some schools have to use rags wedged in cracks in the walls to keep water from flooding. Some schools have raw sewage seeping into the hallways where students walk through it and then track it back into their classrooms. The main reason all of this can continue to happen is that the current law states that all South Carolina children only have to be provided with a "minimally adequate" education.

Despite all of these adversities; however, I still believe ALL children CAN learn! These students just need to be given the same opportunities and advantages that many of us received.

Currently, there is a petition drive that, if agreed upon by 2/3 of the House and Senate, would change the law requiring all children must be provided with a "high quality" education.

During this holiday season, I encourage each of you to stop and reflect on your own schooling. If you're like me, then you're probably thankful for what you received. I then ask you to think about those children who have to try and learn in those horrific environments. Would you want your child in environments like that? Finally, I encourage you to visit www.goodbyeminimallyadequate.com, sign the petition, and help us provide all South Carolina students with a high quality education.

After all, these children are our future, and ALL children CAN learn!