Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
Prepare to stop Another child in Spartanburg has been hit by a vehicle while trying to board a school bus, and once again, the official response is to say, “No charges will be filed.” This is unacceptable. When drivers see a school bus slowing down with flashing lights and children nearby, their duty is to slow down, prepare to stop and be ready for anything. A kid stepping forward a few seconds early is a foreseeable risk that drivers should anticipate. We have built a culture in which drivers often are treated as blameless, even when a child ends up in the hospital. Instead of holding motorists accountable, we bend over backward to excuse them: “The bus wasn’t fully stopped,” “the child stepped out too soon” or “it was early in the morning.” Enough. Children should not have to pay for our car-centric complacency. South Carolina must stop treating vehicle-pedestrian collisions as inevitable and start treating them as preventable. That means stronger enforcement, real penalties and a cultural shift away from reflexively defending drivers. If we can’t protect kids waiting for the school bus, what does that say about us as a society? DANIEL CASE Spartanburg Consider livability An editorial in the Nov. 2 edition of The Post and Courier rightfully asked how the State Ports Authority's growth will impact its neighbors. Although the Navy Base Intermodal Facility will alleviate some of the truck traffic on Interstate 26, we already struggle in North Charleston with delays in daily commutes because of rail backups blocking our streets. Trains often sit, unmoving, for at least half an hour. We were previously promised overpasses that never materialized. We all acknowledge that we live in the industrial heart of the Charleston area, and it is a big part of what makes up our character. However, it would help if the plans involving the port and the railroads could consider the livability of the communities that surround and support their operations. DENISE REYNOLDS North Charleston New plate fitting Much like the Nov. 2 letter writer regarding the new South Carolina standard license plate design, I too am a proud resident of our state — seven generations, to be exact. Sure, the Revolutionary War began in Massachusetts and ended in Virginia, but unlike the writer, I don’t think "we risk distorting the historical truth for the sake of a catchy slogan." After all, South Carolina had more than 400 battles, skirmishes and naval engagements of the total fighting throughout the war. A third of all Revolutionary War casualties occurred in our state as well. The brutal and barbaric warfare of Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis and Maj. James Wemyss became the best patriot-recruiting tools for Francis Marion, Andrew Pickens and Thomas Sumter. Combine their tactics and fighting skills with Gen. William Moultrie, Gen. Nathanael Greene, Col. Wade Hampton, Gen. Daniel Morgan and Sgt. William Jasper, and I believe the designers got it right with the slogan, "Where the Revolutionary War Was Won." South Carolinians are proud of their role in our nation’s independence, and I believe the new license plate, just like our state flag, will be the envy of the other states that made up the original 13 colonies. PAIGE B. SAWYER III Georgetown Improve Burke Downtown Charleston’s families have been left behind. Burke High School, once a proud institution, is now a symbol of neglect and low expectations. Despite decades of plans and promises, Burke continues to post poor test scores and declining enrollment, leaving downtown parents with no viable public high school option. It is unacceptable that in the heart of one of America’s most historic and prosperous cities, families must either move or pay private-school tuition to secure a decent education. That is not equity, and it is not progress. Charleston County School District must confront this reality with urgency and transparency. Burke should be capable of serving more than 1,000 students, but roughly 359 students are enrolled in grades 9-12. The downtown community deserves a high-performing public school that offers rigorous academics, strong leadership and safe, modern facilities, not another round of restructuring that brings minimal change. As Charleston grows and prospers, our public schools should reflect the same standards of excellence we expect in every other part of civic life. The children of downtown Charleston deserve a future that matches the promise of the city they call home. CLARA BAILEY Charleston Send us your letters What’s on your mind? Join our community conversations and let your voice be heard by writing a letter to the editor. Letters can be a maximum of 250 words, and are subject to editing for clarity, tone and libel. They must include the writer’s name and city for publication, and a daytime telephone number for verification. Email your submissions to letters@postandcourier.com or fill out the form on our online portal.
