Superintendent also ‘should do a proper

Editorials

October 19, 2006

Anonymous The Daily Southerner Thu Oct 19, 2006, 01:13 PM EDT

I have read two letters from parents regarding the recent "incident" at Tarboro High School. In fact, I recently spoke with the parent of an autistic child from Tarboro who had written a letter. Regarding the "incident" as it was called – certainly it probably should have been called more than an "incident" based on the seriousness of the matter. Both of the parent/writers are correct – I totally agree; we should not make excuses for any child being mistreated in our schools.

... the child was a special education student. Regardless of any label for a student, no student should suffer from attending our public schools. Only Mr. Suggs, schools officials, the police, the student and others involved know the full account and to date I have not read anything that disputes the child was in fact disciplined inappropriately by hand/ruler.

The two ladies who have so far written did so in an objective and factual manner. I do not agree with Oliver Curtis Powell that corporal punishment could be justified in this case or any other. Even with students having no learning challenges/difficulties, we do not get our best from fear of being hit. Students are not motivated out of fear ... they are motivated out of positive support and encouragement.

In speaking with the Deborah Laughter ("I hope the parents pursue this matter to the fullest"), I did explain that my letter was intended to show my support for Mr. Suggs as the man I knew in Tarboro. However, I also expressed how much I appreciated reading a letter from a parent/advocate for children and that if so, I did not intend on diminishing the seriousness of the matter or the effects on the child.

Mrs. Laughter has an understanding of the needs of some students that goes beyond what many of us would know. Her letter was timely and certainly prompted a telephone call from me to express my thanks for being a child/student advocate and bringing out that my letter to the editor may have read as excusing any corporal punishment of a child.

... I trust the Edgecombe County Public Schools will look into is taking an internal investigation a step further than just Mr. Suggs and whether or not he committed an unnecessary act against the child. With the No Child Left Behind Act there are many new requirements placed on teachers – one of which is to provide each child (including those with special education needs) ... an education in the least restrictive environment possible.

We should be able to trust that the school system will do a proper internal investigation in addition to the police investigation.

In conducting its own internal investigation, we might hope that Edgecombe Schools will investigate and report to Superintendent Witherspoon on recent and current practices involving special education programs and students. Such an internal investigation will disclose any weaknesses in school/management oversight of special education programs and students. For example, a lack of required oversight by school or central office administration could inadvertently lead to problems developing within the program that could otherwise be seen/addressed and corrected.

While Mr Suggs' matter is still up in the air, there is no doubt that Tarboro has a few good parent advocates – and special education student advocates at that. Listen to what these parent advocates have to say and the school system might reap some great rewards.

Kenneth Pledger, MaED

Rocky Mount

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Editorials

Happening a special event
My first Happening on the Common was one to remember, perhaps in part because it included a wide variety of music, arts and crafts and food.
And while you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking if someone liked either music or arts and crafts, there is no such uncertainty when it comes to food.
My favorite of the day was from the Hispanic Youth Group from Tarboro’s First Baptist Church. Their tamales were, as the Campbell Soup Kids used to say, “umm, umm. good!”

May 21, 2012
Did you ever lose your vehicle?
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a parking lot, knowing in yiour heart that you remembered where you parked but faced with the realization that you didn’t?
I think many of us have been down that path, sheepishly realizing that the reason your automatic door opener isn’t working is because it’s not your vehicle.
Then, sheepishly, we walk away and begin our wandering and wondering as we try to find our wheels.

May 14, 2012
Who looks after our parks?
To the Editor:
There are so many wonderful aspects of living in a small town like Tarboro; we have opportunities to participate in improvement programs in gardening, home restoration courses, weight loss, summer recreation, wholesome weekend events, some of which are free, and many more that meet the interests of our residents, such as the upcoming free concert on our Town Common by the North Carolina Symphony. There’s a “Trap, Neuter, Return” organization to keep the feline population in-check. Check out the calendar page of the Daily Southerner and you will be informed of opportunities for all ages.

May 14, 2012
Thanks from United Way
To the Editor:
A remarkable group of more than 175 citizens came together recently to celebrate a major accomplishment for the communities in Edgecombe and Nash Counties. The joy was palpable at the Champions’ Luncheon as the United Way Tar River Region affirmed that the ambitious goal of raising more than $1.26 million has been reached! There was a collective sigh of relief in knowing that funds will be available to continue support for the growing number of needs in our local neighborhoods.

May 14, 2012
Economic growth a must
I give credit to Rich Karlgaard, a regular contributor to Forbes magazine, for many of the statistics I use in this column.
As we all know our economy is extremely sluggish to put it mildly. It’s just growing at somewhere between 1 percent and 2 percent and at this rate the economy can only get worse. In comparison, our economy has grown, on average, at a rate of 3.3 percent since the end of World War II. And even during this time frame we had two big recessions.

May 9, 2012
Rest of week just gets busier here in Tarboro
Just the other day, as the community was making final preparations for Relay for Life, we heard someone complaining about how there is “never anything to do around here.”
We beg to differ.

May 9, 2012
And we continue to walk ...
As a cancer survivor — and on behalf of other cancer survivors — thank you to everyone who has taken even the most minute role in the Relay for Life effort.
That effort continues this week when the Rocky Hock Opry rolls into town for a couple of Saturday performances at Edgecombe Community College.
Please, continue your support.

May 7, 2012
Early voting over; Go to the polls and vote Tuesday
Tuesday is election day.
It is a time when we, as Americans, go to the polls and make decisions that affect the course our communities, our counties, our states and, ultimately, our nation, will take.
But while many will spend time discussing their “right” to vote, we would like to point out that it is also the responsibility of a citizen of this great land to participate in the electoral process.

May 7, 2012
Your Views
May 7, 2012
Do you remember where you were?
I would be willing to bet there won’t be a person at the Tarboro High School football field and track today and tonight who can’t tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when they learned they had cancer.

May 4, 2012
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