Issues
School Crime and Discipline
I have outlined a five-point plan, including a zero-tolerance policy for weapons and violence, aimed at curbing the kinds of incidents that have dominated recent headlines throughout the country, as well as prevention measures aimed at intervening early to ensure that disruptive behavior in the early grades does not result in violent behavior later in adolescence. Read more>>>
Testing and Accountability
I believe in accountability, and as a State, we should continue to support high standards. However, when it comes to testing, I believe we are testing our children too much. I believe it is time for us to reexamine the Accountability Act of 1998 and change the law. As Superintendent, I will work with educators, the General Assembly, the business community, and the Governor to reduce accountability testing to the minimum necessary to allow us to track progress and draw comparisons. At the same time, I will work to institute appropriate, useful, diagnostic testing in the major subject areas, so that we can get results quickly and give teachers the information they need to guide their instruction.
Charter schools
I believe that charter schools can and should be a component of expanding choice within South Carolina's public school system, so long as they remain accountable for results and fully accessible to all students. I would support reform of the current charter school law in South Carolina to eliminate the inherent competition for resources that exists at the local school district level and allow these charter schools to thrive and grow without taking resources from existing school district budgets.
Equity Lawsuit Ruling
I believe this was a "minimally adequate" ruling in light of the deplorable conditions that we all know exist in some of South Carolina's most economically deprived areas. The bottom line is that "minimally adequate" is not an acceptable standard for our schools in this State. It is time to take a hard look at how we fund public education in this State. It is clear that property taxes cannot continue to be the primary source of school funding. We should earmark a substantial portion of the State's surplus funds each year and target those resources at South Carolina's lowest performing schools. As Superintendent, I would make fair and equitable funding a top priority, and I would work with educators, the business community, the legislature, and the Governor to develop a comprehensive plan to address this issue once and for all in South Carolina.
Four year old kindergarten
The time has come for us to recognize as a State that quality early childhood education must be a key component of any comprehensive plan to improve South Carolina's schools. We have made some important strides in recent years when it comes to making sure that South Carolina's children are starting school ready to learn. The time has come for us to expand those efforts and provide funding to ensure that every child on free and reduced lunch in South Carolina, who is not served by Head Start or the DSS ABC program, has access to four-year-old kindergarten in our public schools.
Attracting and retaining teachers
We must elevate and reinvigorate the profession of teaching in this State. We must recognize that teachers are not a part of the problem. They are an essential part of the solution when it comes to improving South Carolina's schools. It's time to stop attacking them and start rewarding them for a job well done. We have made some impressive gains in South Carolina in recent years, and our teachers are working harder than ever before.
Voucher Issue Gives South Carolinians a Clear Choice
Political observers have predicted this year's campaign for State Superintendent of Education will center on the issue of diverting taxpayer dollars to private education from our public schools.
It should. There is no issue that better illustrates the difference between my opponent and me. And no issue decided in this election will have a greater impact on the future of our public schools. In short, diverting tax dollars in this way through vouchers or tax credits would weaken our best private schools and would do irreparable harm to our State's public schools. Read Jim's view on vouchers >>
Learning Communities - A Responsible Approach to Greater Innovation in Public Education
When I began teaching high school English and coaching football in the late 1960s, I almost immediately observed that it was easier to establish strong and lasting relationships with my players than with my students. These relationships were not impossible in the classroom - I and other teachers had our successes - but it seemed to happen much more easily on the playing field.
The differences were not just apparent with my players. The relationships with the parents of players were also stronger, and the camaraderie with the other coaches and their spouses was unmatched with all but a select few of my colleagues.
Why was this contrast between my role of "coach" and "teacher" so pronounced? The answer, upon reflecting, became obvious. First, I had my players for multiple years. In many instances, I worked with them for four years. Second, our coaching staff functioned as a true team; we not only planned and worked together, our success or failure was inextricably linked. We failed or succeeded as a team. Read Jim's complete view on learning communities >>
