Olivia Fowler

On The Way

By Olivia Fowler

Although the school board has been running a three-ring circus for some time, they’ve finally been called on their behavior. An accreditation report following an intensive review was issued by Advance Education, Inc. (AdvancED).

Although the district itself got good marks, the assessment of the board leaves its reputation in tatters.

The most disturbing finding in the report focuses on the board’s power struggles and efforts to control matters that are clearly not under their jurisdiction. The report states:

“Evidence presented to the team members verified that Board members do not comply with

Addressing AdvancED board review

Dear Editor,

I’d like to respond to the letter written concerning the recent review by AdvancED of the School District of Pickens County. AdvancEd’s team recommended a renewal of the district’s accreditation. This is contrary to what some think and others have written — that AdvancED recommended non-accreditation. That is untrue.

With all accreditation processes, be it the one done by the State Department of Education or AdvancED, there is usually a list of required steps of improvement. AdvancED listed three things it wants the district/ board to address in terms of education issues, building issues and board

Organization ashamed of school board

Dear Editor,

This letter is addressed to the School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees.

It is a shame to have to write this letter.  We are aware that your action, inaction, and inability to function as a board has resulted in the accreditation report you recently received from AdvancEd. We are the manufacturers who started here, stayed here or relocated in Pickens County due to the qualities of life here, not the least of which is the School District. We are also the companies that employ the graduates of our schools, pay taxes and support the educational

Ben Robinson

All About Ben

By Ben Robinson

Please let me know if you catch the first sign of spring. I am pretty sure it’s not these frigid temperatures we’ve had for the past few weeks.

I have gotten up and shivered as a good substitute for exercising these past few days. It’s been so cold I have not received any benefits from my advanced weight this winter. Usually people look at me, and say “He’s fat, but that weight probably keeps him warm on a cold day.” Now they just say, “Must be terrible to be cold and fat too.”

The weather has cut out one of my hobbies. Often I will drive through communities and look to

Olivia Fowler

On The Way

By Olivia Fowler

o you think the polar bears are as uncomfortable in warm weather as we are in cold? Although polar bear sightings are allegedly rare in South Carolina, or nonexistent as some claim, we are waiting to spot one in the woods.

The dogs apparently are convinced there’s something strange out there. At least that’s what they have told us three nights in a row.

If the polar bears follow the path of the Arctic blast we’ve enjoyed, they’re probably out there right now looking for seals and other things with a high fat content.

Don’t be surprised to see one going through the drive

Too quick to condemn the unemployed

Dear Editor:

I have heard about how the right portrays the long-term unemployed as lazy freeloaders.  They want you to believe that these people are lazy deadbeats looking for a hand out.

I once worked for the S.C. unemployment office, so let me tell you about the freeloaders they so condemn. They are the Korean War vet who lost his security job and without the unemployment check he must decide whether to pay for his wife’s medicine or his heating bill, or the Iraq war vet with PTSD who’s having trouble adjusting to civilian life after the horrors of war. Or think about all the 50-60-year-old textile workers whose companies shut down and sent their jobs to other countries for tax breaks and cheap labor — their job skills are outdated after working 30 or more years in textiles, and many of these have limited education. How about the single parent who was let go from the temp job since the company no longer needed them, and they can’t find another full-time job, but only short-term temp jobs.

If you think you can live off of unemployment payments, then you are sadly mistaken. The highest before taxes was $326 a week; I saw payments as low as $20. You can not live on unemployment.

It’s amazing that so soon after Christmas we rush to condemn the poor. The need to take care of the poor and least fortunate suddenly ends on Dec 26. We must make Christ proud of us.

Larry Allen

Easley

Olivia Fowler

On The Way

By Olivia Fowler

Over the weekend we went to see the new Meryl Streep/Julia Roberts movie “August: Osage County.” The acting was remarkable, but this was not an uplifting, feel-good movie. It was about a monstrous, self-centered, drug-addicted, psychopathic mother who could have prevented her husband’s death but chose not to.

If you think your family is dysfunctional, go see this. Even if your parents are serial killers, they will look like Ward and June Cleaver in comparison.

It was fascinating. You couldn’t tear your eyes away from the screen… The effect on the audience was the same as if they had witnessed a fatal train derailment with no survivors.

Although the movie was disturbing, our trip to the concession counter was even more so.

Ben Robinson

All About Ben

By Ben Robinson

I’ve had a few problems today with my computer. I saved my column, and even called it up to send it to Zack so he could build the Opinion page. But somehow I lost the file, somewhere on my hard drive.

I’ve checked with the guys who actually understand these computers, Rocky and Zack. Both agree that I have lost my column. They’re too busy doing the actual work of the paper to search for some dumb guy’s column. They are doing what we need smart people for, and both qualify for that title.

Me? I am the dumb guy who offers comic relief. I’ve done it for years, although I used to get laughs by saying things that

Guest Editorial

By Jimmy G Taylor

Being a young boy growing up in the remote areas of Oconee County near Oconee Station and Pickett Post, us kids hardly ever saw a black person — maybe once a month or so when we got to go to Walhalla for something. Also, there weren’t many blacks in Walhalla in the late 1940s.

We moved to Pickens County in ’49 and later ended up near the town of Norris.

Being raised on a farm, I went to work at the age of 14 helping Mr. Cook on his farm. He was also in the business of moving families; Sometimes we moved them downstate, out of state or just across the street. There were two or three

Olivia Fowler

On The Way

By Olivia Fowler

I think it could be helpful if public meetings had soundtracks as the movies do. Before you dismiss this as a crazy idea, give it some thought.

What if each board and commission in the county had its own theme song? And what if there was a musical score to give the audience clues as to what was actually taking place.

It would save so much time. For example, prior to votes about budget cuts or tax increases, the soundtrack from Jaws could be played.

It would certainly be appropriate. The dread, fear and mounting tension of the music would prepare the audience for the worst.

The “one issue” board members, those who come to life only when specific concerns come up for debate, could declare their views accompanied by that old favorite, Three Blind Mice. If a debate developed during the discussion, those who disagreed but didn’t want to go on record as opposing the first group could stand and counter with a little known version of Row Row Row Your Boat.

It would go something like this:

Group One —

“Three blind mice, three blind mice,

See how they run, see how they run.”

Group Two —

“Row, row row your boat,

Gently down the stream.

You’re never going anywhere,

But hold on to your dream.”

Group One —

“We’ll never stop playing our drum and fife,

And pledge to continue in stress and strife,

Until our opponents depart this life,

Three blind mice.”

The chair could then stand and say, “send this matter to the committee for study. We’ll review it later.”

And so, instead of hearing the same tired old points belabored, the music could communicate exactly what is happening.

Those who want to work cooperatively with others who don’t share their viewpoints could also have musical accompaniment. I suggest Climb every Mountain.

“Climb every mountain,

Search high and low,

Follow every highway,

Every path you know.

Climb every mountain,

Ford every stream,

Follow every rainbow,

‘Till you find your dream.”

In that instance, any of the high school choral groups could simply sing, in perfect harmony of course, as a replacement for actual debate.

If attempted discussion lasted too long, say more than three minutes, the chorus could skip to the end and drown them out with the last verse.

Immediately after the chair recognizes a member, the chorus could break into song.

Just before board members file in to take their seats, one of the school bands could play the theme from Superman. This would show some respect for the mission.

After members are seated and the meeting is called to order, the band could tune up softly in the background. Then maybe, near the beginning when old business is addressed, the old Sam Cooke hit from the sixties, “Chain Gang,” would be appropriate.

“That’s the sound of the men,

Working on the chain, ga-ang

That’s the sound of the men,

Working on the chain, gang

Can’t you hear them singing, mmm (Hoh! Ah!)

I’m going home one of these days

I’m going home, see my woman

Whom I love so dear

But meanwhile I gotta work right here”

And to insure public attendance, fried chicken should be served halfway through all meetings, because hungry people have a hard time agreeing on anything.