Shameful

Ignore the overkill of violins in the background; just listen to Pat Conroy speak and watch this compelling story about a South Carolina school. Who could imagine that in 2009 in the United States of America, children are wearing coats and mittens in the classroom; raw sewage floods the corridors and holes in the walls are stuffed with rags, while the ceiling falls in after heavy rains??!!

Read Howard Witt's excellent coverage in the Chicago Tribune:

Ailing S.C. school sees Obama stimulus plan as lifeline.

Letter from the heart lands teen in first lady's box for speech

Obama speech shines spotlight on dilapidated school in South Carolina's 'corridor of shame'

South Carolina teen implores Congress to help school; gets invitation to President Barack Obama's speech

Comments

[Gillian daSilva]

Tara
I just haven't the time this week to click, but am here to say I read your preface to the video and can't believe it. That is unimaginable. I would have a hard time sending my children to school in those conditions, but likely the affected families haven't much choice. xo

[tinker]

I think that last administrator who spoke, put it most eloquently, 'what happens to the least of us, happens to all of us.' There has to be a better way. I hope and pray our society finds it - soon! Before another generation of children is left behind...

[Di Overton]

How refreshing when the person who can do something about it is listening and taking action

[Lisa]

I'll be honest. I'm a former school teacher and I personally never gave much thought to the conditions that our rural schools face, especially from the standpoint of tax dollars and how that impacts education. Admittedly, I have always assumed that our schools were in at least "OK" shape. Apparently that is not so and I'm ashamed I didn't know that! No matter what taxes we pay, our educational system though needy on so many levels, should never suffer the way schools and districts like this do.

Thank you for opening my eyes to this, Tara. While I'm no longer in education, I still care about what happens to our nation's children and our educational systems and policies as a whole. I'll definitely pay more attention to it now.

[Judie]

It's unfortunate that SC is not the only place that is affected like this. Yes, it's shameful. Those who eat steaks every night never give those who still eat porridge (maybe) a thought. This is an example of what Mr. Obama is trying to help. I get upset when I see all these politicians (and others) ranting against Mr. Obama, instead of "pulling together" to help fellow Americans. Thank you for this post, Tara.

[Susan]

Thank you so much for posting this! Pat Conroy is also one of my personal favorites and so it was wonderful to hear his thoughts, even on such a deplorable and tragic situation. I'm not sure why, but I keep thinking of all that money Oprah spent to build that school in Africa... when there is so much need right here...(and I admire Oprah for all she has done so I certainly don't mean to disparage her generosity). It also reminds me of the remarks made this week by the governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford-R, who indicated he might not accept all the funding from the stimulus package when it is offered... but that he would say "a prayer" for those people hurt by the economic crisis. Is it any wonder this country is falling apart? Just as a sidenote, if you have never seen the movie "Conrack", starring Jon Voigt as Pat Conroy, it is a wonderful depiction of the year he taught those children on the island... and it's a lovely performance by Voigt (before his politics became so skewed!)

[Christina]

This is sad. These are everyones kids, everyones problems. This is our country.
Thank you for the self reflection, you have provided me with.

[Yoli]

I know this exist here, people are shocked to see it and that is what terrifies and shocks me. It is like a well kept secret for a lot of Americans. There needs to be more awareness. Thank you for posting it to your blog.

[Rebekah]

This situation is horribly shameful, and one that you might expect to see in another part of the world (makes me think of Slum Dog Millionaire), but the fact that it is in our own country is beyond shame. Distribution of funds for education based on the local tax base is a practice that makes the situation self-perpetuating. Thank you for holding up that mirror that makes us face the truth and asks us for a response. I can't pretend I don't know. Brings to mind the scripture, "To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

[dutchbaby]

Tara, thank you so very much for this post. First, Pat Conroy is my favorite author of all time ("Lords of Discipline" is my favorite)and "The River is Wide" was a great little book. Second, I agree wholeheartedly with you that the problem with education in the US is that the funds are doled out based on property taxes. In my opinion, it is the singular most undemocratic aspect of America that creates a deeper divide between the "haves" and "have-nots". I shudder to think of all the talent that goes to waste every day.

[Barbara]

Several years ago I served as one of two parent representatives to a committee charged with drafting a new mission statement and list of goals and objectives for the Williamsburg-James City County School System in VA. Over a year I witnessed first hand the pressure and politics brought to bear on the district administrators from area businesses and the school board. Some of the business people were not even parents so they could not speak to the system in any personal way! We must not forget that Republicans have stated outright that the first stepping-stone into politics is through one's local school board. District administrators really walk a tight rope, and while some of them are no doubt well connected politically, I think that by and large they do want to serve the students as well as they can. Ironically, one of the thornier issues the W-JCC district identified was the No Child Left Behind Act. I found it even more ironic that the governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford (R), is one of those, along with Bobby Jindal (R-LA), who have been stumping energetically against Pres. Obama's economic stimulus plan. Shameful does not even begin to describe their choices and actions.

[Suzanne]

Our inability to fix our education system must be the result of entrenched interests such as the administrators and the unions who create layers of jobs that don't actually touch the children they are supposed to teach. I often wonder what would happen if the education system was completely privatized. Or if the government remains the provider if they were able to get rid of the unions and strip out the layers of administration that enrich themselves at the expense of children....

[Tara Bradford]

Patricia, my mom was a teacher and I have many friends who are teachers now, so I understand what you're talking about. But I do think the current system of awarding schools resources due to their particular tax base is woefully inequitable. I know examples of similar problems in school districts in Texas and California, simply because businesses and industries are not located in those areas and the tax bases are weak. It's dreadfully unfair. Public school educations are supposed to be equal for all students, no matter where they live.

[Patricia]

Sorry for the following rant....The bureaucrats that run public schools are the cause of the problems that continue to linger in schools located in those areas that service populations that are not privileged. Whenever I hear people complain about teachers I just want to scream...how is it that the highest paid people in public education in America are the administrators. I suggest that the practice of "kicking upstairs" those that are incompetent cease...that is, those teachers protected by contracts are often placed in administrative slots to get them out of the schools....then they are rewarded with a higher salary and administrative responsibilities that they are clearly incapable of performing, and hence the horror that continues.