Another year comes and goes...

And where are we? Have we made any progress? I can't help but reflect back on the year. The cheats from Buist get to stay at Buist while we kick kids out of St. Andrews Math and Science. The parents of Fraser stood up to Dr. Maria Goodloe and she shot them down dismissing their concerns over their school sharing a principal. An OCR complaint regarding the inequities between Charleston Progressive and Buist Academy still remains unresolved. Members of the District 20 community have filed 2 lawsuits against CCSD, yet wait for a court date.
I've heard parents blame parents. I've heard CCSD blame parents and their lack of involvement. I've even read comments from people stating a parent should simply move to get a better education for their child...as if moving is a simple process.
Yet, I still believe we should educate all children no matter what their parents are doing and no matter where these children live. We are handing diplomas to functioning illiterates STILL in the 21st century. It's unacceptable. We are clearly not meeting the educational needs of our children. We want to continue to point the fingers in other directions when we should each be looking in the mirror. We can all be doing more to ensure all children learn to read and write. Education is the key too many of us take for granted. We can be doing more to ensure all children receive an equal education. Unfortunately, we are our own worst enemy. Because too many of us do not believe we can educate all children. We want to make excuses, yet there is NO excuse for allowing a child to reach middle or high school without basic reading and writing skills. As taxpayers, we should be outraged.
All children deserve an accelerated learning environment. School should be exciting and fun. Expectations should be high. Classes should be stimulating and challenging. Yet, our schools are failing our kids. We are chipping away at the children's natural love for learning, year after year...When will it end? When will we all believe all children deserve an equal education?

Buist and The Garden Club

According to the Buist Foundation website, the Charleston Garden Club has adopted Buist Academy. Maureen Ray, a member of the Garden Club and a grandmother to several Buist students is "honored" on the Buist Foundation website. Excuse me, while I gag.

According to a reliable source, Maureen Ray is the wife of dentist Dr. Ray who allegedly insisted his sons use his downtown property to enter his grandchildren into Buist. Afterall, Dr. Ray pays taxes on his downtown property, right? Evidently, one son had moved his family to the St. Andrews Math and Science school zone, but that wasn't good enough for Dr. Ray, who is also a Yacht Club member. That son allegedly used daddy's dental office to get the eldest grandson into Buist.
The other son used daddy's condo at Vendue Range. I guess it's just another one to add to the "Who's Who" list at Buist, huh?

"Step it Up"

In yesterday's "Your LowCountry" section of the Post and Courier, the big story is the new Step Team being implemented at CC Blaney Elementary. Evidently the town of Hollywood's Education Committee "initiated" this new team.
Oh, I don't know where to begin. Yes, I think dance is great. But CC Blaney's current overall rating is Below Average. How many of these children are reading at grade level, or better yet beyond grade level? Why isn't the town of Hollywood's Education Committee initiating a reading program providing incentives for students to improve academically?
I was speaking with a friend a few weeks ago regarding our frustration over the afterschool WINGS program at Memminger. No offense, but we don't need you to teach our kids how to Step. We'd prefer if you'd help them with their reading, writing,and math skills. Our kids are excited when they perform better in school. Don't you get it? We're tired of you dumbing down our kids!

What are the Chances???

I hate to keep coming back to Buist, but it IS the epitome of Charleston's Shame. According to advertisements, Buist is now accepting applications and will have it's Open House on Wednesday, December 12. Open for whom? Is Buist really OPEN? Or is it only for those who "impress" Sallie with their law degrees, fundraising capabilities, Yacht club memberships, and rock concerts?
Sallie Ballard, the principal of Buist Academy, will undoubtedly be dressed to impress on Wednesday. Evidently she also feels the need to "impress" parents by revealing the child of a rock star attends her school during their tour of Buist. Yes, according to a reliable source, Mrs. Ballard has felt the need to tell parents Darius Rucker's child attends her school during their tour. Can you imagine? Anxious parents are walking around Buist, wondering if it will be the best educational fit for their child and Sallie thinks they want to hear about Hootie and the Blowfish. When I heard this, I thought to myself, "What are the chances of Darius Rucker's child getting into Buist?"
So what are the chances of getting into Buist? We need a statistician to really look at the numbers, but I thought we could have some fun in the meantime. Take a look at the "The Buist Who's Who" list I've started and feel free to add some yourself. From what I understand the following people's children must have entered Buist Academy under the Countywide list which has hundreds of applicants, right? So what were their chances of actually getting into Buist?
1) Charleston's rock start Darius Rucker; 2)long time board member and civil rights attorney Gregg Meyers; 2) former CCSD board member Robert New; 3) CCSD's very own Buist lottery and assessment guru Janet Rose; 4)Buist baccalaureate teacher Mrs. Barrett ; 5) renowned Charleston attorney Mark Brandenburg; 6) City Paper editor-in-chief Stephanie Barna; 7)developer Wally Seinsheimer; 8)restaurateur Mark Cumins; 9)attorney George Kefalos (wife of renowned gallery owner Candace Martin)...
Now let's take a brief look at the downtown (aka District 20) list:
1) former CCSD board member Diane Aghapour; 2) Post and Courier reporter Robert Behre; 3)former City Paper reporter Bill Davis (oops I think he moved back to West Ashley); 4)newly elected CCSD board member Toya Hampton-Green...
These aren't the circles I swim in, so help me out if you can...And feel free to correct any mistakes I've made...
Happy Holidays!
And I thought getting into Buist was the luck of the draw...SILLY ME.