Senator Jackson should rethink his position on private schools receiving public money

I was disappointed to read in The State the comments made by Sen. Darrell Jackson concerning his support for school choice options that include using public money to cover the costs of private school tuition.

As pastor of Bibleway Church of Atlas Road, the senator appears to be searching for a new approach to funding education as his church prepares to build a school for its members.

Unfortunately, his decision to consider supporting the use of public money for private school tuition will not just be limited to his church community but, as a state senator, could provide the pivotal support needed to eradicate free public schools in South Carolina in all communities.

Sen. Jackson says he recalls the days when he knew his teachers and his teachers knew him. He says, "Many African Americans are longing for those days again." I'm not certain the senator's recollection accurately reflects the entire truth.

If the truth be told, many African Americans recall those same days with memories of substandard school buildings, books, transportation, pay for African- American teachers, and forced segregation among public schools.

The public schools in South Carolina are faced with unique challenges, many of them vestiges of a system of inequity caused by the governing bodies established during "the good old days." It is interesting that even now some of the very individuals who are elected to represent the needs of their communities have lost touch with what is needed most.

It is also interesting that like in the past, some in the General Assembly would rather create chaos in our public schools by establishing state academic standards that are higher than that of 47 other states; failing to equitably fund the needs of our state's students; and refusing to put up a good fight to provide a court- required "minimally adequate" statewide four- year- old kindergarten program, even when faced with a $1.5 billion state surplus.

If the senator is truly interested in satisfying the educational needs of all children in South Carolina, then he must accept that our public schools deserve to have their basic needs met.

Our state senators and representatives should try this approach at least once in our state's history before we eliminate public education in favor of a system designed to provide choice to only those who can afford it. I hope the senator reconsiders his position on this critically important issue for the sake of the families and the children he represents.

Wendy C. Brawley

Richland One

School Board www.imarawoman.com