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

Cheerwine and the Outer Banks ... oh, my
I’ve already been told I need to declare, so I’ll tell you right now that my wife bleeds Carolina blue.
Me? I’m more of a Mississippi State fan, myself, although if I had to pick a favorite in the ACC it would be Wake Forest from our days in Thomasville, over in the Triad.
My career has been spent getting the word out to folks about things that were going on. I began at what really was called a cub reporter at my hometown Delta Democrat-Times in Greenville, Miss. and my first boss, Hodding Carter, III, currently serves as University Professor of Leadership and Public Policy at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Since then, I’ve worked in half-a-dozen states, spending about 25 years in Texas. Along the way, I’ve covered a bit of everything — obits, weddings, elections, Little League, Babe Ruth, local, state and national politics and all things in-between, including Hurricane Katrina.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Confessions of a Speed Demon
I am in big trouble. I feel I am one step away from déjà vu all over again.

Ford recently announced the release of the latest version its Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. It has 550 horses with dual racing stripes. I believe I am being tempted beyond my ability to resist.

A similar car, a 1966 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, in white with dual blue racing stripes, got me in a little trouble when I was 14-years old.

January 27, 2012
Global Economy, Our Economy & Taxes
There‚Äôs a lot of talk about “Our Economy” now... and how it ain’t doing so good. I know the word “ain’t” isn’t considered a proper word, but our economy isn’t very proper right now either.
Actual “Our Econom” is a bit of a misstatement itself. Our Economy is very much a global economy. Actually it’s been that way for hundreds of years. Remember the original Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773 was all about the importing of tea. The colonies imported a lot back then and as our nation grew we began to export a lot too

November 16, 2011
It’s all in the Songs
Sometime ago I did this column on humorous song titles, most of them country music song titles. I though that this week it would be interesting to revisit this area again and maybe add just a few lyrics.

November 3, 2011
Cleaning out a reporter's notebook ...
Unsuccessful 2008 Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory is scheduled to visit Tarboro later this month.
McCrory plans to stop in restaurants and walk downtown Main Street between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27.
McCrory, of course, lost to Bev Perdue by only 145,969 votes statewide but got clobbered in Edgecombe County where Perdue received 73 percent of the vote. He has not announced for 2012 but has raised more than $1 million.
McCrory served a record of 14 years as the mayor of Charlotte from 1995 to 2009. He was elected for a record seventh term did not seek an eighth term.

August 12, 2011
Will N.C. maps pass inspection
Clark Jenkins thinks there is a good chance he will back in Raleigh around Thanksgiving, and the five-term state senator from Tarboro isn't talking about Christmas shopping.
It will be all because of those redistricting maps, he said.
"The Republicans went overboard in gerrymandering," Jenkins explained. "If they are approved, Sens. Dan Blue of Durham and Dan Clodfelter of Charlotte have told me there will be a lawsuit."

August 5, 2011
Big big difference in Reidsville
When Remonia "Remi" Muhammad talks about the Black Family Day Event she has organized for Saturday, Sept. 3, she often mentions the same event over in Reidsville, which is having its 15th next month.
Reidsville is a city of about 15,000 folks between Greensboro and Danville, Va.
There are notable differences, however.

July 29, 2011
Putt Putt anyone
A Putt Putt Fun Center (that's the correct name for the minature golf course) at Indian Lake?
It could happen. Heck, it might happen one day if Tarboro Mayor Donald Morris has his way.
No, it will not happen this year. There's no money for fireworks or mini golf courses.
Morris wants to bring paddle boats back, too and perhaps persuade the civic organizations in town to build some more picnic pavilions.

July 22, 2011
Yes, policies in place
Methinks when Tarboro Town Council gave its approval to cosponsor the Black Family Day Event on Sept. 3, it struck a nerve.
That came at the June meeting, just before our elected representatives raised taxes to balance the 2011-12 budget.
Of course, no one asked what BFDE would cost.

July 15, 2011
Jury out on tourism in county
Every time the World Wide Country Tours visited Tarboro this spring, some folks in town split $600.
The bus came three times this year and four last year. The visitors are given a guide (Monika Fleming, Bobbie Martin) tour the Calvary Church yard with Tom Miller, have a reception at the Blount-Bridgers House and stay overnight in the Comfort Inn.
"That was easy money," said Candis Owens, who got the visits started a year ago after our town was noticed on its revamped website.

July 8, 2011
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