Speaking Before State Education Committee

The SC state education committee had a hearing recently, allowing citizens to speak on the topic of vouchers. Current Rock Hill School Board member, Walter Brown, spoke against the use of vouchers. Former Rock Hill School Board member, Dale Dove, spoke in favor of vouchers. Most of the speakers who spoke in favor of vouchers can be seen on Youtube - an example of how well funded the pro voucher group is in South Carolina - Dale's comments can be seen below. But first, I'd like to make a few comments. I served on the board for a few years with Dale, he was also a neighbor, and his daughter had been on my church basketball team. Dale has a lot of mission projects and would give you the shirt off his back. I agree with some of his comments but disagree with his conclusion. We have a lot of children who do not graduate from High School. We need a process to help them succeed. Vouchers are not it - at least in their presently presented form. Most of the folks who do not graduate have been suspended or kicked out of school for disciplinary reasons - no one wants those students, vouchers or not. Dale says that school boards do not have the ability to hold schools accountable - he is wrong. An individual member does not have the power to do it, but a majority of the individual board members do. It is up to the board member to convince 3 more members (in Rock Hill's case) to go along with them - as I've found - sometimes that is a difficult process - but that is the way government is designed to work. As to his comment on repercussions if a parent complains....this is not the first time I've heard Dale say this, and I'm convinced he believes it. My experience is this is a two way street and the facts can sometimes get cloudy - especially when the issue is over your child . This would apply whether it is a public or private school. As to his comment about social promotion. It happens. Look at the state test scores and then look at the number of people who get retained. There is a mismatch - that is until high school, when you have to earn credits to advance. A good example; look at your district's eighth grade total students, and compare to 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. You'll see the impact of social promotion that Dale talks about. However, social promotion, or at least social promotion in limited form, is recommended by the South Carolina Legislature's own Education Oversight Committee.
Dale Dove at the hearing:




To get a different perspective on the issue, go to this conservative blog: Voting under the Influence

What do I think? We need something different for the large number of students who cannot meet standards starting in 3rd grade. If we cannot redefine public education's role to do this, then we need to let private enterprise help. We don't need to start taking money away for students who are succeeding.