Pop quiz, hot shots ...

Brewer roars back to win academic bowl

March 30, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

Ian Fagan didn’t have all the answers — just most of them.
Following the preliminary round of questioning in the 2007 Greenwood District 50 Middle School Academic Quiz — known as the “Academic Challenge” or “Quiz Bowl” — the young “Brains of Brewer” still left in the competition found themselves in the most unfavorable of academic positions as the fourth of four teams earning a trip to the finals.
Undaunted, the garnet-clad academic squad entered the thumb-twitching competition (students answer questions using hand buzzers) during Thursday’s finals with full confidence — and a standout in Fagan.
Both proved too much for the competition.
Brewer defeated the Westview A-Team 145-50 in their opening game and breezed through the finals game in a dominating 195-45 performance.
In that finals match Fagan was brilliant, answering six of the first 10 questions to stake Brewer to a 60-10 lead it would never relinquish after the opening round. The Westview B-Team — which made the finals after scoring an upset (and somewhat controversial) 110-95 victory over the Northside A-Team — could mount no consistent response.
Fagan was just glad to earn the victory in an evening to remember.
“I don’t know, I just wanted to win the game,” he said after celebrating with his jubilant teammates. “It’s my first time in the finals.”
Brewer reading instructor Brook Moeller served as one of the team’s coaches along with Brewer librarian Peggy Harrison. Moeller said she believed in the team the entire way.
Now she’s going to have to back those words up — in a clown suit.
“It was a great performance,” Moeller said. “I knew they could do it. I told them I would dress as a clown if they won, so I’m going to be a clown next Thursday. Now I have to find some big shoes.”
Moeller wasn’t the only one who had to pay up.
Brewer Middle School Principal Anthony Holland allowed someone to overhear him saying that he would foot the entire team’s Pizza Inn bill should they emerge the Academic Challenge victors Thursday.
Most of the team found Holland quickly after the win.
“I’m ready to pay up,” he said.
Greenwood High School math instructor Vicki Holliday served as coordinator for the event, sponsored by Greenwood School District 50, the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and Piedmont Tech.
She enjoys the enthusiasm of the participants — and the math questions.
“This is an annual competition between the middle schools for bragging right for academic honors,” Holliday said. “They have a lot of fun and everyone gets really excited. The kids get pumped up for this event, and it’s good for the community and for all of our schools.”
In the game to determine third and fourth place in the competition, the Westview A-Team pulled away in a tight, neck-and-neck affair during the waning questions of the game to defeat the Northside A-Team by a narrow 160-130 final score. The Northside A-Team led the competition following the opening preliminary round of competition with 675 points.

Reactions mixed on Lander schedule

March 30, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

People have different reactions to change.
Some embrace it, relishing the idea of taking on a new challenge or greeting untapped horizons. However, it seems that just as many, if not more, are not fond of change, preferring things to stay just the way they are.
Major changes are on the way at Lander University, with school President Daniel Ball announcing last week a dramatic shift in the way Lander will schedule its school year. The proposed changes will begin to take place in the fall semester of 2008.
Ball’s new plan calls for a shorter school year but longer class periods. Under the plan, school will begin after Labor Day and end before May 2. That will give students a nearly four-month summer break.
As far as class periods go, each class will be extended 10 minutes for Monday, Wednesday and Friday sessions. Class times will increase by 15 minutes for Tuesday and Thursday sessions.
Ball said the changes were brought about, in part, to improve the academic performance of students by giving them more class time. He also said giving students extra time in the summer will give them a greater chance to work and earn money, and it will help them in working jobs that would assist the tourism industry, a leading revenue producer in South Carolina.
Upon Ball’s announcement, some faculty members at Lander — such as teachers Aron Tannenbaum and Roger Wolford — scoffed at the notion of the new schedule, saying it will cause inconsistent scheduling and challenge the attention span of students.
Meanwhile, other instructors — such as mass communications professor Robert Stevenson — said they were in favor of the move, in part because there will now be designated times set aside for clubs and student organizations to meet. On Thursday, some students at the university spoke their mind about the 2008 schedule changes, and the reviews were mixed.
Freshman Niles Corley, a member of the class that is currently enrolled and will be most affected by the shift, was adamant about his position.
“I don’t like it at all,” Corley said. “It’s going to make classes a whole lot longer and make things harder on people.
For instance, if you have an 8 a.m. class now, it’s 50 minutes and people already have trouble staying awake. If you have what is now a two-hour class, it will be even harder to focus. I just think it’s unnecessary. No other schools are doing that in this state. Why do we have to be the first?”
Corley conceded that a longer summer break is an attractive selling point, but he said he thinks it does not outweigh the prospect of longer classes.
Michelle Addison, a sophomore from Columbia, said she would prefer a shorter summer break if it meant shorter class periods.
“I don’t feel like the semester is too long as it is,” Addison said. “But I really don’t want longer classes. I wish it would just stay the same as it is.”
Corie Seay, a sophomore, disagreed, saying she thinks the extra minutes added to sessions won’t cause problems.
“The way it is now, teachers don’t hold us in class the whole time if they don’t want to,” Seay said. “I don’t think the time change will affect that at all. If they don’t want to teach the whole time, they are not going to.”
Meanwhile, freshman Will Foster said the longer summer break is something he looks forward to. He said it will give students a chance to work but more time to relax after the school year as well.
Freshman Curtis Milner, a forward on Lander’s basketball team, said he thinks the extra time off in the summer will give players more of a chance to spend time focusing solely on honing their basketball skills.
However, he also wondered how it would affect his agenda during the school year.
“I’m not sure how the longer classes will come into play with basketball,” Milner said. “We already have to plan our practices and workouts around class, so longer classes could cause some difficulty there. But we’ll have to wait and see.”

Ninety Six’s Neal going coastal

Wildcats’ coach accepts job at St. James after 13 seasons at NSHS

March 30, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

NINETY SIX — The Ninety Six Wildcats will have a new wrestling coach next season after Brian Neal, who compiled a 170-83 record over the past 13 seasons, announced Thursday that he accepted the job as wrestling coach at St. James High School in Murrells Inlet.
Neal also will serve as assistant football coach for the Sharks and teach a physical education class.
“I interviewed for the job last Thursday (Mar. 22) and they called me as I was driving back and offered me the job,” Neal said. “It was a hard decision because I have two sons who are rising seniors. I took the family on Monday to see the area and I really left it up to them. That really took a lot of stress off of me to make a decision once they said they were OK with it.”
The Wildcats now have their hands full in finding a replacement for Neal.
The former Ninety Six graduate captured four of six region championships with the Wildcats, including the past three, was a three-time region Coach of the Year (‘99, ‘05, ‘07) and was also named coach of the North team in the annual North-South Game on two occasions (‘97, ‘03).
The Wildcats won 67 percent of their matches under Neal and it showed as 14 wrestlers during his tenure earned all-state honors.
“It’s going to be tough to leave the wrestling team,” Neal said. “There are a lot of talented wrestlers at Ninety Six.”
Despite the emotions that come with leaving a solid team and relatives in Ninety Six, Neal said he’s looking forward to helping the Sharks reach a similar level of success after discussing the program with Saint James athletic director Paula Lee and principal Joe Dowling.
“My job is to get the Saint James program off the ground,” Neal said. “I was impressed with how dedicated they are. I have been here (Ninety Six) pretty much all my life. This was my first job and I really enjoyed my time here. This will be the first time in a long while that I’ll be wearing something other than the maroon and gold.”
In fact, Neal will be wearing blue and silver as coach of the Sharks, who are pleased to have him.
“We are extremely excited about coach Neal coming to St. James High School,” Lee said. “After interviewing the candidates, our committe made a unanimous decision in favor of Neal.”
Dowling agreed, saying that, ‘I look forward to welcoming him to the beach.’”
“Everything that I’ve seen about him and his family has been positive,” Dowling said. “He will be a great addition to our faculty.”
Ninety Six athletic director Chuck Burton, who Neal informed of his decision Thursday morning, said that it’s going to be hard to see Neal leave at the end of the school year, but he wishes him continued success.
“Losing a coach like Brian Neal is a big hit to Ninety Six,” Burton said. “He’s the total package when it comes to our sports program. We want to find someone who can contribute to the entire program in a similar fashion.”
Burton added that the search for a wrestling coach will begin immediately.
“We hope through our networking of coaches we’ll have someone who matches his caliber,” Burton said. “We’ve worked hard to get high-caliber coaches and when they leave, we try to replace them with coaches of the same level. He’s (Neal) left the program in good shape, so whoever comes in is going to have a lot to work with. We just have to find the right candidate who can not only coach, but is certified.”
Ninety Six isn’t the only school in the area who is looking for coaches, the Emerald high school athletic department is accepting applications for two head coaching positions (baseball, boys soccer) and three assistant positions (football, basketball and athletic trainer) for next season.
According to athletic director Mike Clowney, all teaching positions may be considered with availability in English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Special Education.

Obituaries

Welbon ‘Dr. Hair’ Brewer

HODGES — Welbon “Dr. Hair” Brewer, 62, of 205 Virgin Drive, husband of Elizabeth Brewer, died Wednesday, March 28, 2007, at the Medical Center of Macon, Georgia. Born in Greenwood County, he was the son of the late Willie and Carrie-Bell Stephens Brewer. He was a former cosmetologist with a Master’s Degree in Cosmetology. He was currently employed as an Assistant Superintendent for Kajima Construction Co. He was a member of Dunham Temple CME Church, where he served as a President of the All Male Chorus and was a member of the Trustee Board.
He leaves behind to cherish his memories, his wife of the home; one son, Ulannie (Ileen) Brewer of Simpsonville; two daughters, Cassandra (Christopher) Tribble of Abbeville and Myia Brewer of Greenwood; two grandchildren, Cameron and Caleb Tribble of Abbeville; one step-grandchild; and two step-great-grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Monday, April 2, 2007, at Dunham Temple CME Church, conducted by Rev. James E. McKee. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. The family is at the home. Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc. is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to robson@nctv.com.

Marilyn D. Brunson

AIKEN — Funeral services for Ms. Marilyn D. Brunson will be 2 p.m. Saturday, March 31, 2007, at Ascending Faith Baptist Church, Burnettown, with Bishop Emanuel Spearman officiating. Interment will be in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Cross Hill, SC.
G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary, 390 Beaufort St., Aiken, (803) 648-0134.

April D. Bryan

April Dawn Davenport Bryan, 21, of 127 Clifton Street, wife of John Bryan, Jr., died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, from injuries received in an accident.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of Kenneth Davenport and Deborah Jean Moore Davenport. She was a graduate of Greenwood High School and was a member of Rice Memorial Baptist Church.
Surviving is her husband of the home; a son, John Bryan, III of the home; her father of Hodges; her mother of Abbeville; and a sister, Tiffany Amber Davenport of Hodges.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 1, at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Alvin Hodges officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Jay Cockrell, Alvie Harris, Michael Wallace, Ian Gillespie, Buster Davenport, Lee Ferqueron and Tony Smith.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, March 31, from 6 to 8 p.m.
The family is at the home, 127 Clifton Street, Hyde Park.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Eddie Gaines

COLUMBIA — Eddie Ray Gaines, 64, of 612 Rockwood Road, Columbia, husband of Roberta “Bert” Moore Gaines, died Wednesday, March 28, 2007, at the Lexington Medical Center.
Born in Belton, he was a son of Leatha Craven Sullivan and Hampton Sullivan and the late Ray Gaines, and a grandson of the late Rev. W.R. and Geneva Craven. He was retired from the U.S. Army, serving during the Vietnam War.
Surviving are his wife of the home; his parents of Florence; four daughters, Julie Holland of Cray, NC, Tracy Snyder of Columbia, Christy Gaines and Angelia Gaines, both of Washington State; three sons, Rusty Gaines and Michael Gaines, both of Richmond, VA, and Eddie Gaines, II of Wilmington, NC; a sister, Patricia Martin Ramey of Greenville; a half sister, Donna Beckemier of Greenville; two adopted brothers, Richard Sullivan of Mt. Pleasant and Steven Sullivan of Summerville; 12 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild.
Services, with full military rites, will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Ricky Sullivan, Steven Sullivan, Eddie Gaines, Louis Martin, Rusty Gaines and Michael Gaines.
Honorary escort will be Lloyd Doolittle, Leroy Harrison, Michael Snyder, Nevin Biser and Bob Kelly.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 3 to 3:45.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Jason Ison

ABBEVILLE — Jason Mitchel Ison, 28, resident of 107 Oak Drive, husband of Stephanie Bannister Ison, died Tuesday, March 27, 2007, at his mother’s home in Easley, SC.
He was the son of Kathy Slone Nations and the late Edgar Sherman Ison, Jr.
Josh worked in the restaurant business.
Survivors are: wife, Stephanie Bannister Ison of the home; 1 son, Cole Ison and 1 daughter, Chloe Ison, both of the home; his mother, Kathy Slone Nations and stepfather, Joey Nations of Easley, SC; 1 sister, Amy Brewer of Easley, SC; 2 brothers, Jeremy Ison of Hunnington, WV, and Brent Ison of Morehead, KY.
He was preceded in death by his father Edgar Sherman Ison, Jr.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, March 31, 2007, at 1 p.m. at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Jimmy Tucker officiating. The burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
The body is at the Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends from 11 until 12:30 p.m. Saturday prior to services. The family is at the home, 107 Oak Drive Abbeville, SC.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Online condolences may be sent to the Ison family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Claude Lindley

McCORMICK — Claude Workman Lindley, 72, resident of 152 Price Lindley Road, husband of Imogene Price Lindley, died March 28, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in the Bordeaux Community of McCormick County, he was a son of the late John Thomas and Minnie Hodges Lindley. He was a graduate of McCormick High School and served for many years in the South Carolina National Guard. Mr. Lindley was retired from Gus Carpenter Construction Co. and was most recently retired from the Engineering Dept. of the South Carolina Dept. of Transportation.
A member of McCormick First Baptist Church and the Adult Men’s Sunday School Class of the church, he was also a member of the Jamil Shrine Temple and the Red Fez Shrine Club. He was a member of the McCormick Country Club, having served on its Board of Directors and was also a member of the McCormick Exchange Club.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a daughter, Pamela Lindley Hudson and son-in-law, James B. Hudson of McCormick; two grandsons, James Claude Hudson and Robert Jason Hudson, both of McCormick; a brother, James Leonard Lindley; and three sisters, Frances L. Rabun, Mary Jane L. Self and Lucy L. Williams, all of McCormick. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at McCormick First Baptist Church, with Rev. Dennis Lynn, Rev. Doug Kauffmann, Rev. Lloyd Prince and Rev. C.B. Love officiating.
Burial with Masonic Rites will be in the McCormick City Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Tommie Parker, Clifton White, Bob Sanders, Ronnie Kidd, Ralph Lee, Glenn Hill, Billy McKinney and Don Neal.
Honorary escort will be employees of the S.C. Dept. of Transportation-McCormick Division and the active board members of the McCormick Country Club.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home in Greenwood and will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Friday.
The family is at the home on Price Lindley Road and will receive friends in the church Parlor from 1 to 2 Friday afternoon prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Red Fez Shrine Club, c/o Glenn Hill, PO Box 101, McCormick, SC 29835, McCormick First Baptist Church, PO Box 416, McCormick SC 29835 or to Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Marvin Palmer, 3182 Upper Mill Road, McCormick, SC 29835.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Lindley family.

Marion Martin

DUE WEST — Marion Lester Martin, 77, died Thursday, March 29, 2007, at Savannah Heights Living Center, McCormick, SC.
He was born in Abbeville County and was the son of the late Lester and Daisy Martin Reeder. He was also preceded in death by his son, James Lester Martin.
He is survived by two sisters, Olivia Jackson, Abbeville, SC, and Margaret Valentine, Due West, SC.
Funeral services are at noon Saturday in the Wilbur Robinson Memorial Chapel, Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, by Rev. James Kay. Burial is in the Mt. Zion Memorial Garden, Due West.
The family is at the home of his niece, Mildred Ryan, 8 Valentine Lane, Due West.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals, SC, is in charge of the arrangements.

Tiny Rush

Tiny Moore Rush, 82, former resident of 508 Cobb Road, widow of James N. “Joe” Rush, died March 29, 2007 at Hospice House.
Born in Tombs County, GA, Sept. 22, 1924, she was a daughter of the late John and Cornelia McCuen Moore. She was a graduate of Greenwood High School and the Greenwood College of Commerce. She was formerly employed by Abney Mills and Childs Furniture Co. and more recently was a patient sitter.
Mrs. Rush was a member of Durst Avenue Church of God.
Surviving are six daughters, Judy and husband, Eugene Forrest of Saluda, Marcie and husband, Gerald Padgett of Greenville, Kathy and husband, George L. Goldman of Greenwood, Karen and husband, Rev. Louie Murray of Saluda, Debra and husband, Bill Goodrich of Greer, and Michele and husband, Gregg Phillips of Greenwood; twelve grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday at Durst Avenue Church of God, with Rev. Richard Porterfield and Rev. Louie Murray officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Olin Scott, Wayne Goff, Mark Moore, Gary Moore, Jr., Michael Murray, Eric Massey, Joey Padgett, and Michael Padgett.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The family is at the home of Michele and Gregg Phillips, 106 Fairway Lakes Road in Hunters Creek and will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 Friday evening.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Rush family.

Julian Sanders

Julian “Red” Sanders, 81, of 230 Cambridge Ave., died Thursday, March 29, 2007, at HospiceCare of the Piedmont.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Alice Jones, 312 Davis Ave.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Buddy Sartain

HODGES — Howard Ray “Buddy” Sartain, 75, resident of 207 Farmdale Road, husband of Rose Taylor Sartain, died March 29, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Royston, GA Aug. 23, 1931, he was a son of the late Alfred Oscar and Mae Dean Sartain. He was a graduate of Royston High School and was a U.S. Navy Veteran of the Korean War. Mr. Sartain retired as Vice President of Satterfield Construction Company in Greenwood.
He attended Rice Memorial Baptist Church and was a member of the South Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association. He was a Mason.
Surviving in addition to his wife of 53 years and of the home are three sons, Ray and wife, Kathy Sartain of Forsyth, IL, Dean and wife, Cindy Sartain of Lake Charles, LA, and Gene and wife, Barbara Sartain of Hodges; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Woody Oliver officiating.
Burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Larry Paysinger, James Meyers, Mark Sartain, Kevin Sartain, Tim Sartain, Daniel Sartain, and Dean Philip “Buddy” Sartain.
Honorary escort will be employees and retirees of Satterfield Construction Company.
The family is at the home on Farmdale Road and will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:30 to 2:30 Sunday afternoon and immediately following the graveside service at the Oakbrook Memorial Park Family Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 N.W. 9th Avenue, Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Sartain family.

George Smathers

George Allen Smathers, 48, of 634 Cobb Road, died Wednesday, March 28, 2007, at his home.
Born in Baltimore, MD, he was a son of the late Frank Edward and Theresa Metze Smathers. He was employed with KSC of Greenwood and attended Lighthouse Baptist Church.
Surviving are a daughter, Amie Burch and her husband, Jacob; a sister, Karen Landers; and three brothers, Lonnie Smathers, Jerry Smathers and Kenny Smathers, all of Greenwood.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Robbie Burton officiating. Burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.
The family is at the home of his daughter, Amie Burch, 129 Limerick Road, Wellington Green.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Albert Smith

Albert Deason Smith, 65, of 110 Creekside Court, husband of Rebecca Morgenlogh Smith, died Thursday, March 29, 2007, at his home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Tiller Infant

Georgia Rayne Tiller, infant daughter of George “Trip” Tiller, III and Nichole Hansen, of 1814 Bypass 72 N.E., died Tuesday, March 27, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
She was preceded in death by great-grandparents, George “Ike” Tiller, Brenda Craven and Kenneth Garrett and an uncle, Ryan Tiller.
Surviving are her parents of the home; a brother, Elijah Tiller of the home; grandparents, George and Valencia Tiller, Mark and Connie Brown, all of Greenwood, Frances Pace of Greenville, Tracy and Scott Hansen of Saluda; great-grandparents, Gloria Tiller, Colie and Beverly Shirley, Jerry and Jackie Beacham, Roger Craven, all of Greenwood, Vera Garrett of Hodges, Jan and Bill Hansen of Marion.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at the home of her great-grandmother, Gloria Tiller, 303 Langley Road, with the Rev. Doug Kauffmann officiating.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorials be made to the Greenwood Genetic Center, 1 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Arrangements by Harley Funeral Home and Crematory.

Opinion

Keep focus on real issue in sex cases of teachers

March 30, 2007

There are all kinds of prejudices in South Carolina: racial, religious, gender, economic ..... the list goes on. That, however, is not something peculiar to the Palmetto State or indeed all the United States. It’s a fact around the world.
As there sometimes seems to be no rhyme or reason for prejudice elsewhere, sometimes there doesn’t seem to be any here, either.
However, sometimes prejudices are manifested in unexpected ways. Nevertheless, there are times when a specific prejudice is charged and it’s not an issue per se. Often it’s a manufactured excuse used to exploit some incident for partisan purposes.
Could that be true in a recent case where two white female school teachers were arrested and charged with having sex with some of their black male students?

THE TWO TEACHERS WERE released on bail and have to wear electronic tracking devices. Many black South Carolinians say the teachers have been treated differently than a black male teacher would have been treated had he had sex with white female students.
Is there a difference? A white mother in Greenwood says her son was sexually assaulted and the guilty person got fewer restrictions than these two teachers. But, she said, we “are letting justice take its course and have full faith in the system.”
Who knows what might have been in a “what if” situation? Wouldn’t that fall in the category of “manufactured excuses?”
The teachers, if convicted, deserve the harshest penalties allowed. But that case should be based on the real offense: the sexual charges, not race, gender or any others.

YOUNG STUDENTS ARE THE victims. Nothing else. Let the system work to penalize the guilty for the crimes committed. Don’t involve “what if” thinking. That could also be construed by some as racism.
If found guilty, throw the book at the teachers for violating the trust placed in them and, most of all, the offenses against their students.
Every illegal and/or immoral situation these days that involves whites and blacks is not automatically racial. It appears, though, that too often is the reaction. We have to get past that kind of thinking if we’re ever to rid this nation of the lingering racism that is a legitimate concern.
That goes for whites and blacks.