Letter: Demand action on schools

America, once a leader in education, now ranks a disappointing 33rd out of the 65 best educational systems in the world. Where does that put the state of South Carolina?

Wallethub’s 2014 survey places S.C. a lowly 45th out of our 50 states using 18 different metrics criteria. Low ratings were given on per capita funding of public school students (39th); and teacher starting salaries ($33,389), with the average median salary of all S.C. teachers just 86 percent of the national average ($50,103). Stated further, 62 percent of S.C. teachers need a second job to support their families.

S.C. faces a severe teacher shortage, losing an estimated 5,200 teachers per year with only 2,200 replacements graduating from college. Contrast these challenges with the fact that S.C. has had one of the worst records of teenage pregnancy, high school dropouts, violence to women, ninth highest poverty level and 45th lowest per capita income.

Clearly, we face a serious challenge to educate our children in meeting the difficult world they will face. Significant educational reform is needed, including higher standards while striving for excellence, and raising salaries to keep, motivate and attract more qualified teachers. Cooperative curriculum programs need to be developed between industry and our trade schools, training our youth for the specific needs of industry.

Lastly, this shameful performance has continued because you and I have not exerted pressure, demanding action to address these issues. Contact your representatives in Columbia and Washington. Our children are worth it. They’re our state and country’s future.

This story was originally published June 27, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Letter: Demand action on schools."