Very seldom do I air my political views in the KellyGram, but today I feel compelled to discuss “All Out May 1,” which I thought to be a remarkable coming-together of South Carolinians advocating for better standards in the state’s public education system. On Wednesday, over 10,000 people gathered on the State House grounds to voice their shared concerns over the General Assembly’s reluctance to invest in our state’s most precious assets—its children. For the second time this year, South Carolina’s educators took a stand on behalf of their students and their profession, rallying for higher salaries, better mental health and safety resources for students, smaller classrooms and less testing, and freedom to comment on matters of public policy without fear of retaliation.
These concerns are not new for South Carolina’s public school teachers, but they have remained unaddressed for years. Though controversial, the walkout garnered overdue attention from state legislators regarding serious deficits in our school systems and raised public awareness as to the hardships affecting our teachers. Of all the challenges our state faces, and of the innumerable demands on its resources, none is more important than ensuring that the next generation of South Carolinians is provided the best education possible. It is time for South Carolina to make education its #1 priority!
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