Page 2
Student Perspectives
The
"RIGHT"
Side
By Ralph Powell and Chris Lindstrom
Pro-choice
We feel that we can safely assumme that everyone would
agree that the public school system is in dire need of reform.
The United States is among the top in per capita spending
per student on education then any other country in the world.
Yet. the United States consistently remains towards the bot
tom in test scores. Doesn't something look wrong here?
We believe that it is not the lack of monetary or material
resources that causes this outrage. We argue that it is because
of the money spent on sex education, protection for students,
distribution of condoms and multi-culturism that has penne-
ated our school systems. Other modem industrial nations
leave these burdens to the parents or guardians-where it
should be.
Our public schools are infested with drugs and violence,
which is not conducive to a proper learning enviroment. Could
these be the reasons that other countries are ahead of us in test
scores?
What the republicans strongly advocate are giving all
students, rich or poor, from all ethnical backgrounds, equal
opportunity to choose where they want to attend. This would
be brought about in the form of a voucher sent to the parents
in the amount of what the government spends for their children
to go to public school.
This program would give parents the choice of sending
theirchildto aprivate school, if they want to. Thus, alleviating
the parents of the burden of sending their children to a school
which they disapprove of.
In Greensboro, N.C., $6,000 a year is spent per student to
send them to public school. Many schools, like Greensboro
Day School, cost significantly less and offer smaller classes,
stronger student/teacher relationships, there is virtually no
crime, a 0% dropout rate, higher test scores and a 100% college
acceptance rate.
Some private schools cost less than half of the allotted
$6,000 for public schools. Vadalia Christian School cost only
$2,000per year to attend. It doesn't take an economist to figure
out the more logical choice.
With the voucher system, there would be competition
between public and private schools, forcing the public schools
to provide a higher quality education.
President Clinton is a big advocate of the puWic school
system, yet he doesn't feel that it is worthy enough for his
daughter. Though President Clinton has the money to
excercise his choice, the majority of us do not. With the
voucher system, all Americans would be given that choice.
So, why does Clinton adequately oppose the voucher
system? He claims to understand the problems of the United
States, and that he fights for individual rights; therefore, we
believe it sould be expected of him to support the freedom of
choice.
We chaUcnge President Qinton to re-examine and institute
the voucher system because the students of America would be
the beneficiaries of the voucher system. They are the ftiture of
this great land, and they rightfully deserve the best education
possible. God bless the United States! Don't blame us, we
voted for Bush!
Hatnlet
D / \
'l^a^rlnbu^g \y ,
Gibson
xton
Benn«t
Don't dump on us
By Gregg Phelps
*tr> I
■ ! rfp'd I
Until several weeks ago, the people of Scotland County, in a large part, were unaware
of the low level radioactive waste dump site that may be chosen ten miles upstream in
Richmond county.
Driving down Hwy 74 towards Hamlet and seeing the anti-waste dump signs, or
reading the Laurinburg Exchange, the reality of the situation becomes evermore appar
ent. So why should this issue bother the Richmond/Scotland community anyway, despite
its close proximity? Why should the St. Andrews’ community be concerned about this
issue, since (for the most part) our stay here is only temporary?
Serious questions should also arise when considering the economic, political, and
enviromental ramifications for this site selection. In fact, it is no coincidence that the
Richmond County dump site is a top contender (verses Wake/Chatham counties a.k.a.i
Raleigh area) for the dump location, and Richmond /Scotland counties are some of the
poorest minority populated ares in North Carolina.
The Richmond/Scotland county areas are not as populated as other areas such as the
Raleigh area, capital of North Carolina. You don't have to be a scholar to recognize these
political undertones. Bob Bierbaum, a St. Andrews' video production professor, believes
it is such a political matter that he is taking the issue to Washington, D.C. by foot
(estimated at 35 miles a day) from the proposed waste site to rally support for this cause.
From an enviromantal standpoint, it would not be a wise decision to put the waste
dump in Richmond county according to Wayward-Clyde Consultants, Inc. (WCQ.
WCC, an independent Geological firm, was hired to survey the hydrogeological site
where the dump would be located and pronounced it unsafe due to the sandy makeup of
the ground. Absorbtion would be excellerated into the surface and ground water if
radioactive leakage occurred. Tte leakage could then be carried down Joe's Creek to the
Little Pee Dee River, and onward to the Pee Dee River, both rivers arc a large supplier
of water for South Carolina residents.
True it will be a long time befoiie we can find an alternative to nuclear power, and we
need to find a place to dump our waste. This part of North Carolina is not the solution.
This site will be the second one in the Southeast (after Barnwell, S.C.). That means
mat waste would be trucked in from Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi.
Honda, and South Carolina. In short, this is a matter of safety and health.
proven in the last presidential election that youth have a voice and are being
T Vote, etc.), and the people of Laurinburg and Scotland County need our
e p. ave illustrated the hazards, and the injustices of the situation, now it is time for
you to judge for yourself, and act.
tr. can given through political action, fund raising, and publicity committees
f ^regg Phclps (5598 Albemarle, suite 7 rm. 146) or Amy
Mow(5348) for more information and literature. When it's said to "Keep North Carolina
Green, let s keep it in the vegeiation sense.