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l??WJ I JjJiwAw hohbi an State By Jim Phillips I Editorial Pago Editor As the end of a decac i proaches, let us hooe South Carolina, consider some to be one of the progressive states in the South, will finally open it and be progressive in the that needs it most: ] education. I Although South Carolin begun recently to spend and more of its ? appropriated money pniinfltinn thp stafo ofill near the bottom amonj states in the quality ol most important field, result, South Carolina is < the few states in the co where the average educa attainment of the populat still below that of a high s gi auuair. In 1970, only 37.8 perc South Carolina's popul over 25 years old com four years of high schoo only is this figure far bel< national average of 54.1 cent, it is the lowest in the South. Is nnv u/nnHpr .Qnuth Parnlii *"V " more applicants turned from the armed servic mental incompetency th other state? There used to be a ? among South Caro "enlightened few" in th< ! of education that if it w for Mississippi and Alal we would be last in evei^ If South Carolina contini have a passive attitude the quality of its j education system, we m; even be able to boast o dubious honor. Cjamecoi | Founded 1906 Mark J. Lurtdgren Editor Don Fobes Copy Dei Tom Travis New! David Baker Entertalnmen Brett Frledlander Sport! Dave Roback Graphic! Barbara Mathews Win jim rmuips ttmoriai pag< Jan Easterllng Assistant New; Lehman Stllei Assistant Entertalnnr Mike Chlbbaro Asst. Sport! Janice Wood Graduate A Jill Griffin Advertising A/ Fran George Production A/ Jon Clemmensen General Ai Sam McKee Business K Mark Ethrldge Jr. etont <nprnnd In the G*me< If tHtned, of the writer am , of the aonior editorial staff 'v'" & ?,. educatio South Carolina still ranks near the top in the number of le aD- high school dron-outs. addinc that: to an already alarmingly higK ed by number of functional illiterates most in the state. Yet, this emDeep barrassing statistic does not s eyes have to continue. With ; area determined and concerted public effort among those in a position to improve the quality of education, most notably the educators and legislators, a has South Carolina can assume a more position of leadership among ;tate- the states of the Soutn and the on nation in public education, ranks i the r this To begin with, more funds As a would help. But money isn't the me of only answer. South Carolina untry [GtLLV(3uFFIN6TON '7?? ,ion is school |" I ent of ation pleted 1. Not >w the tellff J per- BBMaMfgijiM figure there Kt// U\ llh-illH ia-has 'iff HB^MM I In 111 H ck In Chief 1 7 (juest coLi l Editor t Editor . .... rnis semester tne aar begins accepting guest c s Edl,or from its readers. Columns sh ?Editor on pertinent subjects of inter s Editor majority of the Carolina i Editor munity. Also, columns she lent Ed. limited to one topic and pre ... v Afionfnrl al ?tanor iwvuu j ujl ai ssistant newsworthy columns will tanager \anaoir tanager m \ The Gam? Manager | 1 -|T| should be an \ O I I the writer'* c Adviser V-A A, A. standing and ?r. 1 11 writer's nam I, H un- Of | p V?Q XV-/ W \J\ J i, O usc Columb n must 1 already is a leader in the percentage of total state appropriations spent on public education. Teacher quality, improved learning aids, education colleges, teaching methods and many other things must be carefully scrutinized, evaluated and improved in any way possible i for the amount of money ap- j propriated to be useful. Money spent unwisely on education would be better not spent at all. The day will come, and probably not too far in the future, when the people of South Carolina will stand up and demand accountability t from their leaders for the sad JOHNNY, DOG IS .LLED "D-A-W-6"/ imns welc necock ?Pte?. on, staKte> olumns ^national s"b^ Columns should ?ts curate-An facts ? ? the Gamecock. A i com?uld be page edltor reser ferablv re;iect any columi though and edit for space, be ac- aclSmnS sho. :ock welcomes letter# from It* reader*. Letter* a lexlmum of 300 words and must be signed with 8 orrect name, telephone, mailing address, class * ma|or. Pseudonyms are unacceptable, but the e may be withheld by request If circumstances reserve the right to edit letters for space. Ad- S lo: Campus opinion, The Gamecock, Drawer A, I la, S.C. W200. \ ae pro? state of education in the put schools. They will wonder \* little Johnny isn't as smart the new boy from Arizona v is in the same grade. They \ wonder what nappened to that money they begrudging took out of their pockets at I time. They will want to kn why Johnny's English teacl doesn't know a gerund fron preposition. And the lead) had better have some answi when that day of reckoni comes. Better yet, they shoi start today to make an earn effort to solve those probler ensuring that Johnny v> graduate from high school well educated as any otl child in the country. . ?Gamlgoc -i A owfivd by a in- incU national and ts. seni be factually ac- addi ill be checked by colu Iso, the editorial type ves the right to tripl i for any reason style, content and Fc tact old be signed and edit< r? )n ; columns; jressive >lic USC President James B. rhy Holderman is extolling the as virtues of the university in/ho ternationally, but what good will it do if the students coming to the university are not well educated enough to take adtax vantage of the quality OW 0H110 o f i nn nuntlnkln ? vviuvuiiun a v anauic UCrC, ier Dollars that could much better 1 a be used for advanced courses ers and research will have to be Brs diverted for remedial courses ma so the university can dhere to its motto of "Faithful index to __f the ambitions and fortunes of _ the state." as, rill nc ier Public education in South Carolina, if not imoroved quickly, will eventually drag ? the state's institutions of K higher learning down with it. Perhaps Holderman indicated the quality of public education in this state better than anyone when, as he assumed the presidency of the state's largest university, he did not have enough confidence in the school system to enroll his own children in it. He bore much criticism for the move, hut who rnnlrl hlnmp him*? Hp was only acting as a concerned parent, looking out for the best interests of his children. we strongly urge that the leaders of education in this _ state begin an all-out effort o bring it up to national standards. Perhaps, if begun quickly, the 1980 s could see South Carolina become an educational leader in the United States. For the sake of this state, its future leaders and its people, we hope so. _J Gamecock ide university standing (junior, or, professor, etc.), major, ess and phone number. Also, mns are limited to four written pages, and must be e spaced on a 65-space line. >r additional information conJim Phillips, editorial page )r at 777-7181. The Gamecock welcomes guest columns from It* (aders. Column! muil be limited to one newsworthy ib|ect end must be no more then four typed peges. II columns must be typewritten, triple spaced on a 45 ace line. All facts must be accurate. The editorial ?ge editor reserves the right to re|ect any column for ?y reason and edit for space, content, style and ac racy. Columns must be signed with correct name, Idress, telephone, rna|or and class standing. Address tlumns to: Guest Columns, The Gamecock, Drawer , USC, Columbia, S.C. 2920C.