Open Letter to Sheriff Lott

The following email was sent to Sheriff Lott this evening.

Dear Sheriff Lott,

I invite you to Tuesday night's Richland Two school board meeting at R2i2. Please address the board and the public about last Friday's Fight Night and tell us how many were really involved, how many were injured, whether any of your deputies were injured, and why only three have been arrested. Many of us have seen the videos.

The District hasn't issued any detail beyond the bland lawyerly-correct statement that was probably half-written before the game even started. 

I know you're busy. I trust that the board will allow you to speak when you arrive and that you will leave after your remarks, without taking questions.

What's going on in Richland Two is absolutely outrageous. A Committee of the Whole on Safety & Security was created last spring, and it's dead in the water, waiting for the new board in November. Well, we can't wait. We need the right kind of action, not talk, before we have a fatality in Richland Two.

We appreciate the work that your deputies and you are doing. Richland Two needs to step up and do its part.

Thanks,

Gus Philpott

Next meeting of the Committee of the Whole

Do you think the next meeting of the Committee of the Whole on Safety & Security should be before December?

Speak up. Not to me. I can't do anything about it. 

Speak up to someone who can do something about it.

Check out this class - AA Studies (A.P.)

Hello, parents, community members, and Board of Trustees- - did you know about this program?

On the District's website is a promotion of a new course at Ridge View High School, "an Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies pilot course". 

I'll copy the announcement here so that, when it has disappeared from the website, you can still find it.

RIDGE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL OFFERS UNIQUE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES COURSE

Students at Ridge View High School are taking a deeper dive into African American studies. Ridge View is one of about 60 schools nationwide and the only one in South Carolina to offer an Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies pilot course. 

Social Studies teacher Daniel C. Soderstrom says students are going beyond learning how to recite the courage of Rosa Parks’ refusal to move from her seat, the eloquence of Martin Luther King’s speeches and writings, or the leadership of Harriet Tubman in antebellum America. 

“The creation of this class signifies America's continuous strive for excellence in education. For instance, if you look at any history textbook used in public schools in the early 1900s, you will read how the people who were enslaved were supposedly content with their lives and how their problems only began after emancipation. This, of course, is untrue. However, throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, as a society, we gained a greater conscience for teaching history fairly and accurately. AP African American Studies is another step along that path,” said Soderstrom. 

Ridge View first offered African American studies courses in 2017. Since then, the school has expanded to 10 sections of learning and adding an AP-level African American studies course serves to further excellence in education there. School officials believe by helping to design this AP-level course, they have the privilege of enhancing American education, which will benefit students around the globe for generations to come. 

Soderstrom says, “What AP African American studies strives to do is teach students that Black history is not limited to slavery and the Civil Rights movement, that Africa has a rich history of powerful and wealthy nations, that American excellence shines through all peoples' backgrounds in the fields of art, science, mathematics, history, law, business, and politics.” 

Students enrolled in the course are learning how to tell the story of the majority-Black government that rose to power in South Carolina after the Civil War. They are studying the progress of equality through the film industry with the creation of shows like The Jeffersons, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and the Proud Family. They are learning about the powerful African city-states that rose to power over a thousand years ago. These are some of the topics covered in African American Studies, and through the AP course, they can delve deeper than ever before.

Source: www.richland2.org/News/RIDGE-VIEW-HIGH-SCHOOL-OFFERS-UNIQUE-AFRICAN-AMERI

Where does the Buck on Safety stop?

You've heard the phrase, "The buck stops here." Harry S. Truman, President of the United States (1945-1953) had this sign on his desk.

Maybe we need to present one of those to Baron Davis. That's where the buck on Safety & Security for Richland 2 schools stops. Right on his desk. It is his responsibility. 

It's the job of the school board to direct him to fulfill his responsibility.

Read this interesting history of the sign. https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/trivia/buck-stops-here-sign

Title IX Comments - Last Day (today)

Today is the last day to submit public comments on the revisions that Joe Biden wants to Title IX. Check out this FoxNews story: 

https://www.foxnews.com/media/bidens-controversial-title-ix-rule-bombarded-with-record-number-comments-from-concerned-parents

Do you believe biological males should compete in womens' sports?

Do you think schools and colleges should be required to allow biological males to use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their "gender identity." 

Do you want sexual orientation and gender identity programs expanded in schools?

Send your comments today, if you can figure out where to send them. It is virtually impossible to find on the U.S. Department of Education website (www.ed.gov) where to send them. No surprise there; right?

How about this for a scary final paragraph in the FoxNews story:

"Asked if the record number of comments for the Title IX proposals would convince the Biden administration to back away from controversial provisions, (Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies President Robert) Eitel said it was 'possible, but improbable' because 'there is a core political constituency that is demanding this change.'"

That's the WOKE crowd, friends, who have Biden's ear.

Open Letter to Committee of the Whole

The following email has been sent to Trustee Monica Scott, chairwoman of the Committee of the Whole on Safety & Security.

Good morning, Trustee Scott,

In view of Friday night's melee at the Spring Valley-Ridge View football game, recent fights at RNE, and the gun taken from a student at Spring Valley on September 2nd, I am writing to request that you convene an urgent meeting of the Committee of the Whole on Safety & Security. 

This meeting should be held at a time that is convenient for members of the public to attend in person, so that they can participate, not just watch.

It's not an "emergency", and it is more than "important". 

It's not important that Manning, Caution-Parker and McKie attend. If Holmes has good reason to think she might be re-elected, she should be there; otherwise, not.

It's time to take action. The violence at that football game and the fights at RSD2 schools must be addressed and ended.

Sub-committees need to be formed, and parents and community members need to be involved. They don't want to be spoon-fed the same old ideas of RSD2 administration that must have been under consideration since I first addressed the school board on February 27, 2018.

Sincerely,

Gus Philpott

Why is R2 silent on Friday fight?

Why is Richland Two silent about the huge melee at the football game on Friday night?

You know, the huge fight involving many people at the Spring Valley-Ridge View football game on September 9, 2022?

Want to see part of it? Look at the video posted to the Facebook page of Richland2 Black Parents Association:   https://www.facebook.com/richland2blackparents

Be sure to have your speakers on. Now, imagine being there.

According to The State Newspaper, Richland County Sheriff's Department had only this to say on Twitter: “We’re getting lots of questions about an incident at the Ridge View-Spring Valley game tonight. A fight broke out and the game was called. The crowd was told to leave.” (Source: www.thestate.com/sports/high-school/article265578731.html#storylink=cpy)

OK, RCSD. Where are some answers???

And Supt. Davis had this to say:

“Dear Ridge View High and Spring Valley High Parents,

"Tonight during the third quarter of the varsity football game a fight broke out between several individuals in the area right above the home stands at Harry Parone Stadium. 

"Due to the disruption caused by the fight, the game was stopped while law enforcement, school administrators and district officials responded. No weapons were involved and no major injuries have been reported. However, multiple individuals are being detained at this time. 

"As a precaution, the decision was made to not resume the game and guests were asked to leave the stadium in a safe and orderly fashion. 

"We wanted to make you aware of what occurred to prevent the spread of rumor and misinformation about the incident. Additionally, we also wanted to assure you that we are taking this matter seriously and will be reviewing all of our safety procedures for athletic events. Thank you for your continued support.” (Source: www.thestate.com/sports/high-school/article265578731.html#storylink=cpy)

So, where is the NEWS? How many students were involved? From what schools were those students? Any troublemakers from out-of-district schools? How many were arrested? One rumor is the Richland One's A.C. Flora's students were fighting. How many deputies were involved? How many injuries? How much damage?

There is absolutely NO information on Richland 2's website about this!