Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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me Gamecock Kindergarten from page 1 5-year-old classmates are likely to suf fer,” Freeman said. Most commonly, redshirting is dope by affluent families that can afford an ex tra year of preschool. According to Freeman, this situation possibly puts younger, low-income chil dren at a disadvantage. The eligibility date for children to enter kindergarten is based upon when the child turns five. While it varies from state to state, many states have a Sept. 1 date that co incides with the start of the academic year. South Carolina changed its eligi bility date from Nov. 1 to the common Sept. 1 date in 1995. Freeman said that in the absence of compelling statistical evidence proving that redshirting is beneficial, all the prac tice accomplishes is the creation of a 1 1/2 year age range in kindergarten classrooms. I This is a range that, according to Free man, kindergarten was not designed lo address. Some local educators,though, have a different opinion of the practice. Steve Reel, principal of Ben Lippen School, a private school in Columbia, admits that a number of families, especially in pri vate schools, choose to delay their child entering kindeigarten. “I don’t see this as a problem. In fact, developmentally, it can be a strength,” Reel said. Redshirting occurs most often with children born after May, as they are rel atively close to the Sept. 1 cutoff, ac cording to Reel. “The ideal scenario is to have teach ers work in partnership with parents, lead ing the discussion based on professional experiences as educators, samples of chil dren’s work and records describing their classroom activities,” Freeman said. “Screening tools might also be useful. Teachers also should help parents realize that it is inevitable that one child be the youngest and another child the oldest in any classroom and delaying a child’s start might not be in anyone’s interest.” Jane Wyatt, principal of Caughman Road Elementary School, doesn’t mind redshirting. She said not many parents seem to be doing it, but that it appears to be beneficial for those who are. “The children are all more mature and ready to leant,” Wyatt said. She also noted that full-day kinder garten has also gone into effect in South Carolina, and the maturity of the child is crucial for that experience. She said that her school is experiencing no problems and.that, in general, children are enter ing first grade more prepared than pre viously. Wyatt said redshirting should ulti mately be at the discretion of parents, since she believes they know their chil dren best. She argues that compulsory schooling laws ensure that children won't be delayed for any extended period. The National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National As sociation of Elementary School Princi pals agree is that redshirting doesn’t ben efit the child or the school. Freeman also cautioned parents not to pusli their children into academic work too early or against the child's will be cause the frustration it brings to both par ent and child can breed an early dislike of school. The city/state desk can be reached at gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com. i_i_m i Carla Wynn The Gamecock Kindergartners at Caughman Road Elementary School in Columbia leam a clapping game during class on Friday afternoon. Vaccine from page 1 increase vaccination rates. “Childhood immunization is the on ly way to protect our children against high ly contagious and potentially debilitating diseases,” said Dr. Elizabeth Fagan, of the advocacy group Parents of Kids with In fectious Diseases. She also acknowledged the need for mandating vaccinations for all children, saying “approximately one million preschool children in the United States are not adequately protected against po tentially disabling and fatal diseases.” South Carolina’s chickenpox vacci nation mandate comes after the CDC last year recommended that states vaccinate all children before entering day care and school. In an effort to create greater aware ness about the effects of chickenpox and the importance of parents speak ing to their health provider about the vaccine, Paul Offit, M.D., pediatrician and chief of the Center for Infectious Dis ease at the Cliildren’s Hospiutl in Philadel phia, is urging parents to learn more about the disease. The state hopes to increase awareness of the disease among parents, as well as to reduce the number of South Carolina kids affected by chickenpox. The city/stale desk can be reached at gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com. compiled by Charles Prashaw and Kristin von Karowsky UNIVERSITY Saturday, September 9 • Larceny of CD face plate, auto break-in, Blossom Street Garage, level 10. The victim said someone entered liis secured jeep by cutting a hole in the plas tic window. The victim said that they only thing missing from the jeep was the face plate to a Sony CD player. Estimated value of the face plate is $ 150. • Harassment, illegal use of telephone, East Quadrangle. A female USC student called police and reported that arr un known male made obscene remarks to her and that she believed that the male was mistakenly calling her to harass some one else. She said she suspects this be cause her phone number, spelled out, “is something really dirty.” Friday, September 8 • Minor in possession of alcohol, disor derly conduct, Patterson. Aaron Fer reira, 19, was observed by an officer, standing on the sidewalk with a cup in her hand. When the officer stopped and checked to see what was in the cup, it was discovered that Ferreira was drink ing a beer. Ferreira was taken into cus tody and transported to Richland Coun ty Detention Center. Thursday, September 7 • Larceny of handbag, USC Law Cen ter. Eldon Wedlock reported to police that someone removed the following items from his unsecure, unattended of fice. The handbag was described as made by Wilson and had estimated value of $50. Items in the bag included a pipe and tobacco, a Swiss army knife, a Leather man tool, a pair of glasses, a folded um brella, insulin, a syringe and a flashlight. Estimated value of all items stolen is $250. • Driving under suspension, disregard ing stop sign, Whaley and Sumter streets. An officer observed Quentin Greene in a gray Maxima “totally disregarding the stop sign.” After stopping Greene, the officer discovered that his license was under suspension. Greene was ar rested and transported to Richland Coun ty Detention Center, and his car was towed to the city garage. CITY OF COLUMBIA Sunday, September 10 • Assisting other agency (motor vehicle recovery), 2362 Two Notch Rd. The re porting officer found a vehicle owned by the victim, Oscar Hardman, report ed to be stolen. After running a check through the Department of Motor Ve hicles, Fisher confirmed the vehicle found matched the original Florence County report of the vehicle stolen. The Flo rence County Sheriff’s Department was notified. Estimated value: $25,000. • No drivers license, 2500 Schoolhouse Rd. The reporting officers observed tire subject, Edward More, pick up a pros titute and proceed east on Schoolhouse Road. The officers initiated a traffic stop, at which time the subject was asked for his drivers license. When the subject could not produce a license, a check through the Highway Department re vealed that the subject only had an iden tification card. • Bench warrant service, Sonic on As sembly Street. The reporting officer ob served the subject, James Patrick Cor bitt, sleeping in the entranceway to Sonic at 7:40 a.m. The officer conducted a field interview at which time it was confirmed through the Columbia Police Depart ment front desk that a bench warrant ex isted for Corbitt. He was arrested and transported to Richland County De tention Center. Saturday, September 9 • Auto breaking and petit larceny, 1301 Main Street. The complainant, William A. Hurt, said someone used unknown means to break out the right-side win dow of his vehicle and removed a .38 Smith & Wesson two-inch stainless steel revolver. Estimated value of gun: $351. Estimated damage to window: $100. • Attempted burglary, 3532 Bealment St. The victim, Mary Rhaniy, said an un known subject tried to enter her home tltrough the window. She stated the sub ject tried to move the air conditioning unit from the window, breaking the win dow in the process. The victim was al tered to the attempt when her daugh ter started screaming after seeing the subject’s hand coming through the win dow. A chair was found outside the win dow. • Accidental injury, 1529 Ilex St. The victim, Charles McCutchin, stated he was showing his B.B. pistol to a friend when he placed his hand over the muz zle of the gun and pulled the trigger. The gun was loaded with a pellet that entered the palm of the victim’s left hand and exited through the back center of the hand. The victim drove to Baptist Med ical Center, where he was treated and released. Friday, September 8 • Shoplifting under $1,000, Amoco on Forest Drive. The complainant, Labrina Myers, stated an unknown black male subject, between the ages of 25 and 30, entered the store, removed two six-packs of 16-ounce Budweiser cans from the cooler and fled the scene north on Prov idence Street. Estimated value: $13. Thomas Cooper Library Fall 2000 Tours Discover the world of information available in the Library —take a tour this fall! One-hour tours will be divided into two parts: a tour, of the building for the first half-hour, and a tour of the Electronic Resources Network for the second half-hour. No sign-up necessary. Just meet us in the lobby and learn what resources and services are ! available to you. August 28th- September 28th Tours Monday: 11 am Tuesday: 11 am & 5 pm Wednesday: 2 pm & 7 pm , Thursday: 4 pm J The tour will last approximately one hour. The first part of the tour will j include many of the library departments, such as Reference, Science j Reference, Education, Government Documents, and the Circulation. | The second part of the tour will focus on the electronic resources available at the Thomas Cooper Library. USCAN, Internet, and i CD-ROM databases will be demonstrated. •State of the art Fitness Center •Multi-station Computer Lab •Fax and modem station linked to USC campus •Study area •Two on-site laundry facilities •Spacious 1,2, & 3 bedroom apartments •Swimming pools •Tennis courts •Catering to students •Lounge Area •On-site 24hr maintenence All registered student organizations must be represented by the President, or designated executive officer, at a Renewal 4 Treasurer's Workshop to continue to be recognized as a registered student organization at the University of South Carolina (even if you do not receive student activity funds). All treasurers of organizations that receive, or are planning to recieve student activity funds during the 2000-2001 school year, must also attend a workshop. ^ msmm. * H2 Renewal A Treasurer's r Workshops will be held on the following dates: An Executive Officer must attend a workshop and submit a registration form by Friday, September 15,2000! For more information about Renewal/Registration or questions concerning funding please call Student Government at 777-2654. ,j