As I watched President Obama address Congress and the America people, the most moving part of his speach was the story he told about a young girl from Dillion, South Carolina. President Obama said:
"And I think about Ty'Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina -- a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom.
She has been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this chamber. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp.
The letter asks us for help, and says, "We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters."
"We are not quitters".
If there is one tangible effect I have witnessed with the election of President Obama, it is that hope is alive even under the extreme conditions Ms. Bethea experiences on a daily basis.
To be honest, I never went to school like this school, but I do know that this is the only environment that many children experience attempting to get a good education.
In my opinion, America ought to be a shamed that children are going to school under these conditions. Ms. Bethea should not have even had to go to a public library to type her letter.
Yet there are many opposed to putting more funds into institutions like this where it is badly needed and then complain about the under education of our graduating seniors,
I hope that President Obama makes education one of his highest priorities because there are very needy students like Ms. Bethea who want to do the right thing and are not "quitters".
Did you attend a school similar to the one described above? Did you even realize that these types of schools existed here in America? What is your opinion regarding the condition of this school in Dillon, South Carolina?
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DILLON, S.C. _ Ty'sheoma Bethea went to the public library in this struggling South Carolina town Tuesday night to write a letter to Congress about the economic stimulus bill.
The eighth-grader had never thought about writing to Congress before. She didn't even have a clear idea what a "stimulus bill" is. She went to the library because her family has no computer at home, and the handful of computers at her crumbling middle school _ hand-me-downs once used by felons in the state prison system _ were unavailable.
All the 14-year-old knew was that powerful people in far-away Washington were debating something that might directly help her school, where stained rugs cover holes in the floor, rain pours from the ceiling, classroom temperatures hover in the 50s in the winter, and freight trains passing nearby shake the building so violently that the lights go out several times a day.
"People are starting to see my school as an hopeless, uneducated school which we are not," Ty'sheoma wrote, awkwardly but with passion. "We finally want to prove to the world that we have an chance in life just like other schools and we can feel good about what we are doing because of the conditions we are in now we cannot succeed in anything."
On Wednesday, congressional leaders reached agreement on President Barack Obama's $789 billion economic stimulus package, apparently including some of the $16 billion the president had sought to repair the nation's most decrepit schools.
The school money might seem like just another obscure line-item in the massive recovery bill. But the students and teachers at the J.V. Martin Junior High School _ a school so academically deficient that some of Ty'sheoma's eighth-grade peers can't recognize the letters of the alphabet _ are hoping the federal funds will be a lifeline.
The local school district, already running a $1.2 million deficit this year just to keep teachers' paychecks from bouncing, does not have anything close to the $40 million it would take to rebuild J.V. Martin. The school consists of a partially condemned main building constructed in 1896, a "new" wing built in the 1950s and a handful of portable classrooms scattered across the muddy, grassless school grounds.
Obama visited J.V. Martin as a presidential candidate in August 2007, and returned again last year, each time pronouncing himself appalled by the conditions he found here.
"When a child goes to a school that's crumbling, is it any wonder that she gets a sense her education is not important?" Obama said during his first visit.
The president mentioned the school again during his news conference Monday night, securing J.V. Martin as the emblem of the deteriorating schools across the nation that Obama wants to rebuild using stimulus funds.
Students and teachers here well remember the moment when Obama, standing on the buckled floorboards of the 1920s-era gymnasium where teachers must spread eight trash cans to catch the leaking water whenever it rains, nailed a perfect 3-point basket.
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Comments: 42
Our high school had no heat. We wore our coats and gloves in the classroom. Not many of us went to college because we weren't expected to. We just went to school until we were old enough to get a job. That is not acceptable in today's world. We must do better.
Hopefully, Barack Obama will be an agent of change.
We can pay now or just pay later.
Many states were just unable to make up the difference with increased property taxes.
So in my opinion, not all taxes are bad. Some are necessary.
I really loved this girl's letter. It debunks many myths and shows a great desire to achieve even in the most extreme environments.
Tonight was the first time I heard about the man who gave the money back to his workers, but it shows the difference between men of good will and the scam artists on Wall Street.
The last 8 years only bought out the worse in business and government leadership.
elaine d.
I bet you the schools we built in Iraq are better than this one. Where is our priorities?
Oh I forgot. Building schools in Iraq is considered patriotic, but building them here in the United States is considered socialism.
Sad but true, Lloyd.
My family is one of the lucky ones. Our school system is a good one. We have a beautiful, new school, a pool, a fitness center. Each classroom has a "smart board" (an interactive whiteboard) which disgusts me, because all we have to do is drive about 15 miles west and the school district there is struggling. They don't have current text books, they lack a lot of the so-called necessities that we have. Drive an hour south, and that school district has failing schools and teachers who have to use part of their salary to supply paper and pencils. Children come to school with nothing, and struggle each day because there are no funds--but we have a brand new track and stadium?
Its not the federal government's job to deal with education. The Feds are not accountable like states and local districts but it can flood the country with more money like everyone else had before him.
"Why should I vote to raise my own taxes so other people's kids can get a better education."
Hi Terry.
It only makes sense that a better educated populace is in the best interest of the American people.
It irritates me when some people cherry pick only what benefits them from paying their taxes. I don't directly benefit from paying taxes for education, but I know it's a necessity.
I do benefit from taxes for highway repair and I'm glad to contribute it even for those who use our highways, yet despise paying for it.
Like you, I agree that there is no reason not to support education.
Charles. Maybe it's time for the federal government to step in. Obviously the states and local districts haven't been up to the task of dealing with the many issues facing schools like this one in Dillon, South Carolina.
Many students who excel in math and science come from countries where the government support not only their high schools, but their colleges and universities.
Hello Rita.
The opposition is only hoping that President Obama fails. That is why they are doing everything in their power to turn public opinion against him. However their desire will fail.
The American people see a President that is tackling the issues facing them head on. They see a President with a plan. One who cares about the poor and the middle class.
The American people see the hypocrisy of a party that came into office with a huge surplus and squandered it on tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans and America corporations.
They see a party that spent 12 to 20 billion dollars per month on a illegal and immoral war in Iraq, yest complain when the President wants to spend money here in the United States to revive our economy.
The Republican party comes off as a mean spirited party only concerned about their own welfare. The hell with the rest of us.
Providing health care to the 47 million people without it is considered socialism to them, yet not one of them would ever give up their tax payer funded health care and pension.
Building school, bridges and other infrastructure in America is nothing but socialism, but doing it in Iraq is the right thing to do.
It's ideology like this that has turned the American people against them. They've lost seats in both the Senate and House during the last 2 elections, but continue to push the same old failed policies that got us to the point where we are today.
Yes we as a country should be ashamed that children are attending schools in such disrepair.
Hopefully President Obama will use his "common sense" approach to deal with the many issues facing us as a society.
I an so ashamed of our schools, supposedly they are supported by taxes and the same amount is spent per student. How then is a Los Gatos or Palo Alto high school so much grander than an East San Jose school? (California Cities)
Locally, Modesto California has built 3 new high schools in newer upscale parts of the town, but left the old original High School in ruins, but students still attend there.
Yes, Hispanic, African American, and very poor Whites. You are correct when you have stated this is a poverty problem more than an ethnit/culture problem. The new high schools are beautiful, and have all the latest and greatest stuff.
I live in an ag community with famously bad schools, county
wide.
It does boil down to a poverty issue. There's the "haves" and the "have nots".
I believe that this disparity leads to many problems we face as a society such as teenage pregnancy, crime and dysfunctional families.
Hopefully those in Washington will address this problem before it really too late.
Although many are offended at having compassion for others, I believe we were better off when we did care.
You mean we're making kids go to school in VA hospitals?
Schools like this are leftovers from the goood ol' days of "separate BUT EQUAL" (ha, ha) education in the southern states, but are, by no means, limited to those environs.
On the other hand, after Attorney General Eric Holder toured our detainee detention facility at Guantanamo Bay a few days ago we heard that the poor fellows there were in need of more social and entertainment opportunities. (And I bet the paint isn't peeling or the roof leaking at Gitmo either.)
What a country!
What A country!
I have taught in schools that had similar problems as featured.
It was just another failed part of George Bush's policies and legacy.
It's time that all students begin playing on a level playing field.
The differences between school districts must be closed.
It's just not fair.
This is the outcome of what the GOP loves to cite as 'local' control of education. This has nothing to do with equality in this country. Towns that can afford to pay for education have good education. Towns that cannot result in situations like this. When are we going to wake up in this country and realize that part of the American Dream is equal access to good education? Many demand equal access to guns and scream about having to pay taxes, yet their children went through the public schools and benefitted from taxpayer dollars.
I support the comment made above - why is it that so many can justify building schools in Iraq, yet rail against decent education for all in America? Do they actually hate their own country that much? Do they really think we can sustain our economic standing and growth with a population of uneducated, unemployed people?
The teachers here are just fantastic. The situation is much improved, (everyone now wears shoes) but the buildings are in need of repair and maintenance is way below what is needed. Teaching equipment is inadequate and often poorly maintained. However our teachers still succeed in turning out some of the best students.
A few suggestions to parents from one who has had to deal with a education system that needs improvement:
(1) Most important: Be your child's advocate. Talk to the teachers and the senior staff about you child's welfare and progress, clearly detailing your concerns.
(2) Become a partner with the teachers in the effort to educate your child and let it be obvious that you are part of their team.
(3) Let each teacher know what you expect of your child; ie. the values, ethic and moral standards you set for your child. (homework must be done, no disrespect of teachers etc.)
The teachers will pay special attention to your child and that is an almost guarantee of success no matter what else is wrong with the school. Also no matter how good, well equipped, the school is, if you don follow those, you are setting up your child for failure.
When I think of the Bush's administration acceptance of torture, the first thing that comes to mind is would we like our soldiers treated in this fashion?
I know there are those who say that our soldiers will be tortured regardless of the Geneva Convention, however I believe we should still set the standard for treatment of prisoners.
American used to be a leader and not a follower. We can return to those days with the appropriate leadership. I'm confident of that.
Hello Terry.
I couldn't have said it any better. Sometimes I believe that some in our society have lost their collective minds.
It's only in our best interest to have a highly educated populace. And that includes all of our citizens.
In my opinion, those who oppose the government's intervention in our education system either live in places where the school districts are functional or can afford to send their precious ones to a private school.
I can't imagine any of them sending their children to a school like that in Dillon, South Carolina.
I'm glad you enjoyed the article. Any school that's old, crumbling and full of asbestos requires federal intervention. That is just not acceptable.
Those same GOP members who cite local control of education would never send their children to such a school.
The benefits of having a highly educated population outweighs any costs associated with improving our schools.
Their hypocritical stance on funding our schools shows how out of touch they really are.
They brag of the achievements in Iraq which include building schools, bridges and infrastructure, but rail against attempts to do the same here in the United States.
Go figure!
Hello Dennis.
I am so glad that you were able to overcome the many obstacles you faced in your quest for a decent education.
In the high tech age we now live in, inadequate and poorly maintained equipment is just unacceptable.
The dedication of the teachers who perform under these conditions just amazes me. They are fantastic.
Your suggestions to parents are so valuable that I'm just going to copy and paste it here for those who missed it. I agree with you 100%.
A few suggestions to parents from one ( Dennis Gilman ) who has had to deal with a education system that needs improvement:
(1) Most important: Be your child's advocate. Talk to the teachers and the senior staff about you child's welfare and progress, clearly detailing your concerns.
(2) Become a partner with the teachers in the effort to educate your child and let it be obvious that you are part of their team.
(3) Let each teacher know what you expect of your child; ie. the values, ethic and moral standards you set for your child. (homework must be done, no disrespect of teachers etc.)
The teachers will pay special attention to your child and that is an almost guarantee of success no matter what else is wrong with the school. Also no matter how good, well equipped, the school is, if you don follow those, you are setting up your child for failure.
Competition is needed, not continuation of a monopoly. If politicians and teachers/administrators were forced to keep their kids in government schools there would be major changes. Why is your party and the education establishment (not teachers) so terrified of vouchers for instance?
Real competition has to be fair competition - and fair competition requires a level playing field. There is no such level playing field between public and non-public schools today. Public schools must accept - and keep - all children who apply. Non-public schools have every right to be selective, and many of them are very "choosy" indeed. In general, public schools enroll a much higher proportion of poor, disadvantaged minority and immigrant children than do private schools.
There is no question whatever that the primary beneficiaries of any voucher legislation for non-public schools would in fact be sectarian schools, because these comprise the large majority of non-public schools.
Under the establishment clause, it is not a proper function of government to subsidize any schools, directly or indirectly, whose chief reason for being is to propagate a religious faith, whether that faith is Jewish, Roman Catholic, Unification Church, Nation of Islam, or any other. In that perspective, voucher plans do not pass constitutional muster.
Charles. We are not terrified of vouchers, we are opposed to them. We want the playing field leveled, not the gap widened.
It's in the best interest of all Americans to have a educated populace, not just a select few. That is why we oppose vouchers.