Denmark, SC

Our trip to Denmark, on Friday, was a positive one. I was. honestly, more optimistic about the possibilities for the future of Denmark, following our trip. I had heard a lot of statistics about the crime and unemployment in the town and the area, but there also seemed to be opportunities in the dowtown area and citizens who were willing to participate.

We tried to, first, take in as much as we could through a walking tour, questions for Harry, and photos and observations. Through last semester and this one, I understand more and more that the best way to develop a personal understanding of a community is to visit it and come up with your own opinions about the place. This, of course, does not take the place of the participation and opinions of residents, but it is important to have your own base information.

We also tried to come up with a series of goals and specific areas to focus on, which will be further focussed in class on Monday. It will be important to formulate our goals, so that we have something to work towards and so that we deliver information that will compliment the work that has already been done.

"Corridor of Shame"

Prior to watching "Corridor of Shame," I thought that I had a good idea of the state of public schools in South Carolina. However, I was surprised at the conditions of the schools that were shown. It gave me a new perspective on the schools that I had previously classified as bad. In some cases, it was hard to believe that children were expected to focus on learning in those environments.

I saw the problem as a whole set of factors that were both public and private issues. The state needs to address the conditions that exist in those school districts and find more funding for them. If the children who are currently in school are not provided a better education, the cycle of low wage or no jobs, and thus, a low tax base will continue. I know that there are other school districts, particularly in the upstate, that have much more funding and are able to address facilities needs and are able to attract experienced teachers who will remain, two items that are issues at the school districts in "Corridor of Shame." South Carolina needs to be sure that all of the school children in the state are on an even playing field.

Besides the role that the state plays, there are issues that exist within the communities. One is a disinvestment in the public education system, which is partly a result of schools being removed from communities and becoming so large that no group of people feels that they have ownership of the school. Community schools are sources of pride and places that people feel a part and are willing to invest in. People also show disinvestment by supporting private schools, which often become community schools, in that parents are willing to volunteer in order to improve the school because they feel an ownership of the place and that they have a voice and a stake in the future of the schools.

Other private issues that exist were pointed out by the teachers and administrators in the video, including teenage pregnancy and single parent families. The teachers explained that they were often parental figures for their students. It seemed that some children had issues at home that, unfortuantely, outweighed the need to be focussed on learning at school. Some counted on school for a meal more than for spelling or math.
Both the public and private issues seem to go back to the lack of jobs and opportunities that exist in many of the rural areas of South Carolina. The education system can't fix every problem, but it can help with many and can begin to break the hopeless cycle that many people are trapped in.

Someone made the point that the rural areas of South Carolina are such wonderful places with such particular cultures. Improving the education system is a start in the preservation of these places and the ways of life of the residents.