A futuristic look at classrooms in area schools

March 15, 2006

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

The way courses are taught in some area classrooms could change drastically in the not-so-distant future.
Instead of one teacher in a classroom teaching the same lesson to 20 students, students in a single classroom could each be studying 20 different subjects. That could be done easily by enrolling each of the students in a “virtual course,” in which they would receive instruction via the Internet. It’s something area school districts have been discussing as a possibility for about a year now, said Ray Wilson Jr., executive director of the Western Piedmont Education Consortium (WPEC), which serves school districts including those in Greenwood, Abbeville, McCormick and Saluda counties.
“I think there are a lot of very positive things to be said about virtual classes,” Wilson said. “The most important is that it offers a great deal of flexibility as to the courses students could have access to.”
With traditional classes, students are limited in the courses they can take by factors such as funding and the number of students interested in a particular course. Districts can’t afford to assign a teacher to a course only three students have signed up for. Those limitations make it especially difficult for smaller schools with fewer students to offer a wide range of courses for students to select from, meaning that some students miss out, Wilson said.
Virtual classes conceivably could open all options to students in any school.
The financial benefits for schools and the educational benefits for students are obvious, said Bill Steed, superintendent of Greenwood School District 50. With advancements constantly being made in technology, he said virtual courses are almost certainly the future for public schools. He has doubts, he said, that the quality of such courses are equal to that of a traditional classroom, where teachers and students communicate face to face, but the ability of virtual courses to open up to students to opportunities they otherwise couldn’t have is undeniably “worth it.”
“We can’t say yet whether one is better than the other,” Steed said. “It’s something we’ll have to continue to investigate and weigh the possibilities.”
To be economically successful, virtual courses would have to be maintained by the state and offered to districts statewide, rather than by individual schools, Wilson said. It is his understanding, he said, that the State Department of Education has been exploring options for providing virtual courses in public schools. Wilson said he and area educators are hopeful that the benefits of virtual courses might soon be available to the state’s public schools.

Ex-GHS standout to lead Trojan football program

March 15, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

GREENVILLE — A Greenwood native is set to make his mark as a high school football head coach.
Adrian Wideman, a 1996 graduate of Greenwood High School, has been named head football coach at Class AA Carolina High School. It is the first head coaching position for the 28-year-old Wideman.
“It really hasn’t hit me yet,” Wideman said. “Everyone is referring to me as the head coach, and to me it hasn’t sunk in. I feel very fortunate that this opportunity has come my way.”
After a standout career at Greenwood, Wideman enjoyed a solid four years at Hampton University from 1996-2000. Wideman was twice named to the All-Mid-Eastern All-Conference team at tight end.
After graduating from Hampton, Wideman played a season for the Carolina Rhinos of arenafootball2. He spent two years as an assistant coach at Bethel High School in Virginia before joining the staff at Carolina in 2004 as an offensive line coach.
When departing Trojans coach Doug Shaw accepted the head coaching position at Mauldin, Wideman was offered the Carolina job.
“I truly see myself as a leader, not just a coach,” said Wideman, who serves as dean of students at the Greenville school.
“I’m looking forward to introducing some new philosophies into the program. We got off to a good start a year ago in turning things around. Now, we just have to keep moving.”
The turnaround Wideman referred to came during the 2005 season, when the Trojans snapped a 38-game losing streak. Carolina finished 6-5 overall and, equally important, came in third in in Region II-AA, which sent the Trojans to the Class AA playoffs, where it lost to Abbeville, 38-13, in the first round.
Wideman said he learned much from his days playing for the Eagles under then-coach Willis Burkett. Among the attributes he said he still carries with him are a sense of family and togetherness that is vital in the life of a football team.
He said Burkett always worked diligently to make sure his players became better men, and Wideman said he plans to execute the same ideas with the Carolina team.
One aspect that will make Wideman’s job, both as football coach and dean of students, easier is Carolina’s new school building.
The 300,000-square foot, $23 million facility opened Monday, and Wideman said he and the students are thrilled at moving into the new digs.
“This new school will be a tremendous attribute,” Wideman said.
“We have great students at this school, and a facility like this has been a long time coming. The students here deserved it.”
Chris Trainor covers area sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com

Opinion

Claflin professors show talent is spread around

March 15, 2006

It’s not out of the ordinary these days to hear about major accomplishments of larger universities. Clemson University and the University of South Carolina have, over the years, received major recognition for their work in a variety of fields, including scientific achievement and research. Both universities have done exemplary work.
In fact, it was recently announced that USC has been named a “very high research” school by the independent Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. That puts USC among the nation’s top 95 research universities, public and private. The 95 are listed alphabetically so the rankings are not shown.

CLEMSON, OF COURSE, HAS the advanced automotive research facility going - among other things - and the future there is unlimited.
South Carolinians have, more or less, become accustomed to expecting outstanding efforts from their two largest educational institutions. However, other schools, public, private and church-related, also rank pretty high in many respects. That means, to be sure, that higher education in the Palmetto State is impressive all the way ‘round. We see it in Lander University right in our own community.
Still, once in a while, something noteworthy comes up that should get our attention. This time it reflects positively on Claflin College, a historically black Methodist college in Orangeburg. Two of its professors have been named winners of the 2006 Governor’s Professors for Excellence in Scientific Awareness award.

THEY ARE OMAR BAGASRA, director of the S. C. Center for Biotechnology, and Rebecca Bullard-Dillard, chairwoman of the Claflin biology department. They were cited for their work with emerging scientists.
That award was established in 1985 by the Drug Science Foundation to honor an individual or team for contributions to science in South Carolina.
The work and research in our larger schools could pay handsome dividends down the road, in everything from health to energy. That, of course, is good. But, then, the best minds and potential are not confined to those schools, either. A couple of Claflin professors, along with many others, are proof that good things indeed don’t always come in “big packages. “

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Chandler Abbott

GREENWOOD — Chandler Drake Abbott, 3 month old infant son of Brandon Isaiah Abbott and Maranda Nicole Bice, of 1303 Ninety Six Highway, died Sunday, March 12, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Surviving are his parents of the home; grandparents, Pamela Fletcher, James Timms, Kenneth & Sherry Bice and Ronald Steve Abbott, all of Greenwood and Rhonda Smith Abbott and Anthony Ray Bowie of Abbeville; great grandparents, James Fletcher, Sr., Bobbie & Bill Bice and Nellie Ware, all of Greenwood and the Rev. Calvin & Jean Smith of Anderson; a brother, Mathew Isaiah Abbott of the home; aunts, Kathy Brown of the home, Candice Bice, Stephanie Bice, Taylor Bice, Jessica Bice, all of Greenwood and Crystal Abbott of Pickens and uncles, Todd Hughes of Greenwood and great uncle, James Fletcher, Jr. of Greenwood.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Calvin Smith and the Rev. Curt Eidson officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Todd Hughes, Ricky Abbott and J. R. Weathers.
The family will receive friends at the cemetery follow-ing the service.
The family is at the home of his great grandparents, Bill & Bobbie Bice, 1014 Phoenix Street.
Memorials may be made to the account of Chandler Abbott, c/o Harley Funeral Home, PO Box 777, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Johnny Christopher III

MADISONVILLE, Texas — Johnny Christopher III, retired master sergeant, 62, husband of Dorothy Johnson Christopher, of 712 N. McIver St., died Monday, March 13, 2006 at his home after a brief illness.
Born in Greenwood, S.C., he was a son of the late Johnny Christopher Jr. and Mattie Lanier Christopher. He was a 1961 Brewer High School graduate, an Air Force Vietnam War veteran with 26 years of service and a retired corrections officer with Texas Department of Criminal Justice. A member of Morris Chapel Baptist Church, he attended Pool Baptist Church in Texas.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two brothers, Charles K. Christopher and Marvin Christopher, both of Greenwood; two sisters, Linda C. Edwards and Phyllis C. Hackett, both of Greenwood; four grandchildren; two stepchildren, DeCarlos Leveston and Mrs. Gary (Glenda) Merchant, both of Madisonville.
Services are 1 p.m. Thursday at Pool Chapel Baptist Church. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial with full military rites is in West End Cemetery.
The family is at the home.
Johnson Funeral Home, 101 Spencer St., Madisonville, is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Robinson & Son Mortuary, Greenwood.

Doris Cox

Doris Norman Cox, 80, of 500-B Cokesbury Road, wife of Vincent Astor Cox, died Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Henry and Felecia Godshall Norman. She was retired from Monsanto (now Solutia) after 23 years of service and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include her husband of Anderson; two sons, Tony Cox of Columbia and Tommy Cox of Greenwood; a daughter, Phyllis Goode of Houston, Texas; a brother, Ben Pruitt of Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 1 p.m. Friday in Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by Dr. Jeff Lethco.
Visitation is 6-8 Thursday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, Carolinas Chapter, 5019 Nations Crossing, Suite 217, Charlotte, NC 28217.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com

Fannie Jones Dillard

CLINTON — Fannie Jones Dillard, 94, of 641 Apple Orchard Road, died Saturday, March 11, 2006 at Clinton National Healthcare Center.
Born in Laurens County, she was a daughter of the late Penola Norman Jones and Wil Jones. She was a member of Flint Hill Baptist Church, Whitmire, was educated in Laurens County schools and was a member of Women’s Home Aide Society No. 74.
Survivors include her husband, Joseph Dillard of the home; two daughters, Flocell Humphrey of Clinton and Johnnie Mae Mason of Charlotte, N.C.; a son, Joe Dillard of Clinton.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Flint Hill Baptist Church, Whitmire.
Childs Funeral Home is in charge.

Willie Lee Farmer

Services for Willie Lee Farmer are 1 p.m. Thursday at Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. William Moore.
The family is at the home, 204 Lee St.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be made to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net

Cheryl Denise Hill

CLINTON — Cheryl Denise Hill, 42, died Saturday, March 11, 2006 at the Hospice House in Greenwood.
Born in Laurens County, she was a daughter of J.T. and Jannie Hill. She attended Laurens County schools and was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church, Cross Hill and Women’s Home Aide Society No. 53. She was a former employee of Wal-Mart Distribution Co., Laurens.
Survivors include three sons, Deon Hill, Jurell Hill and Tevin Hill, all of Cross Hill; a brother, Calvin Hill of Asheville, N.C.; four sisters, Patricia Hill of Greenville, Christine Hill of Cross Hill, Yolanda Hawkins of Ninety Six and Chelsy Kingborough of Clinton; and a granddaughter.
Services are 3 p.m. today at Zion Hill Baptist Church, Cross Hill.
Childs Funeral Home is in charge.

Lewis Dorn

GREENWOOD — Hollie Lewis Dorn, 52, of 3907 Wilbert Street, husband of Debbie Jane Allen Dorn, died Monday, March 13, 2006 at his home.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Clarence Lewis Dorn and Imogene Powell Dorn Fleming. He worked in the construction industry and was a member of Providence Pentecostal Holiness Church, where he played in the church band.
Surviving is his wife of the home; a daughter, Jessica Lynn Tomaras of Powdersville; his stepfather, Elmer Fleming of Newberry; his wonderful mother-in-law, Lois Allen of Greenwood; a sister, Julia Teresa Dorn of Greenwood; a loving great niece, Jocelyn Jaide Allen of Ninety Six and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Providence Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Rev. John Abrams, the Rev. Robert Tolbert and the Rev. Delores Rapp officiating.
The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to the account of Hollie Lewis Dorn, c/o Harley Funeral Home, PO Box 777, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Inez McDuffie Middleton

SALISBURY, N.C. — Inez McDuffie Middleton, 84, of 625 W. Kerr St., died Saturday, March 11, 2006 at the Laurels Nursing Home in Salisbury.
Born in McCormick County, S.C., she was a daughter of the late Henry and Lular Lomax McDuffie. She was a member of Spring Grove Baptist Church in Mount Carmel, S.C., and First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Salisbury.
Survivors include her husband, Gip Middleton of Salisbury; a daughter, Leeonia Corry of Salisbury; and a granddaughter.
The body will be placed in Spring Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel, at 1 p.m. Thursday.
Graveside services are 1:45 p.m. in the church cemetery, with the Rev. Roy Andrews officiating.
Abbeville & White Mortuary Inc., Abbeville, S.C., is in charge.

James ‘Jim’ Parkman

James “Jim” Parkman, 88, of 2915 Old Edgefield Road, widower of Gablue Gibson Parkman, died Monday, March 13, 2006 at Saluda Nursing Center.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda.

Edith Thompson

Edith Lora Hall Thompson, 89, of 102 Beacon St., widow of John Richard Thompson, died Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at her home.
Born in Franklin, N.H., she was a daughter of the late Willoe J. and Elsie Varney Hall. She was a member of Calvary Chapel.
Survivors include four sons, Robert John Thompson of Greenwood, Timothy Richard Thompson of Greenville, John David Thompson of Honolulu and Peter Thomas Thompson of Bellbrook, Ohio; a sister, Jean Willhelm of Kettering, Ohio; two grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. David Evans.
Entombment is in Oakbrook Memorial Park Chapel Mausoleum.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com