Guest3988167a, you seem to have a reading comprehension problem. iret54 says: "another pet peeve of mine_football players who can't read or write (and sometimes are illerate) but they can play foofball." I would hazard a guess that if they can't read or write, then they probably are illerate by any definition.

you people dont care about the kids yall care about grammer

Home school

iret54, This is just as disturbing as Mr. Singletary's letter. You say that some students can't read or write and are "sometimes illiterate." Do you not know what illiterate means? You claim to work at RCC so maybe they need to test the staff for their skill levels.

I think that this student may have a valid complaint, my daughter is a senior and has fought the system for 3 years, I am so tired of it. She is a very strong willed individual who does not tolerate being treated unfairly and expects the same treatment as other students but this isn't the case at RSHS. It has been rumored throughout the community ( I actually heard it from my daughter first but then my hair stylist told me the same thing), that we have a cheerleader that has tested positive last year for a drug test and has tested positive twice this year. Her mom throws a fit and then buys the stuff at the GNC store that cleans out the system and has the test redone. She has not been taken off of the cheerleading squad or out of any of the clubs that she participates in but other students that test positive are. I have also been told that students that their mothers are teachers, or have a friend that is a teacher will be allowed to come back after school and take a test over that they scored poorly on but other students will ask and are told no. This gives these students an unfair advantage, they will get the scolarships and accepted at the best schools whereas our children have to deal with a poor grade and not given the same opportunity to retest.

I too am shocked by the lack of grammar and writing skills that a RSHS senior has demonstrated in this letter, but I understand his message. Having worked at RCC for a number of years, I know only too well how badly RSHS students do on entrance exams to RCC. Why do you think there are so many "developmental" classes at RCC? This county needed two high schools--not one. The students who came out to RCC always had the same complaints about RSHS--too big, too many students, teachers did not teach -- just taught what was on the standardized tests. I see this as a failure from all sides -- administation, parents, and the students themselves. All of these so called "educational programs" the government has implemented have been a total failure--No Child Left Behind? Some children do need to be left behind. Don't blame the teachers--they have been told to pass students so it looks good on paper for reports to the state and the feds. And More at Four? Excuse me, but that's just glorified babysitting. What is needed is more parental involvement in their child's education. Instead, we see parents only complaining when there child fails a test or is disciplined for something. Teachers need to be able to have discipline in their classroom---and to get the disruptive students out of their class. And while I know this will also touch a nerve--mainstreaming children with learning disabilites is just wrong....it keeps the class always behind because the teacher has to take extra time for these students who will not be able to do the work. How does that make a child with a learning disability feel? Parents have to know the limitations of their child's expectations. And here's another pet peeve of mine--football players who can't read or write (and sometimes are illiterate) but they can play football! That seems to be what this county wants more than a good education for their children. Why not two high schools? Couldn't have a prestige football program!!

TO nativejustice-I do not undrestand why you would say that the RCDJ needs a new Editor.He allows our letters,even yours,what else could you ask.Do you know who the next Editor will be and what Qualifications he has for the job.You do have the right to your opinion,but please think about it before you act,after all he does not have to print any letter.He may not be perfect but the only name in the Strongs Bible Dictionary that is near the word Editor is Edify.This word in Hebrew means,'kalah,to construct, a bride(as in perfect)a sons wife -bride.Now since true Yahudah's are Yahusha's bride I would say he is very near perfect.Remember all words come from the Hebrew who spoke the world into existence and man cannot change one word.Neither can the Grooks(Greeks)and Je=Romans -

Mywolf-I respect all opinions,even the politicians,physicians and the the master physicians who said physician heal thyself(Luke 4-23 (old proverb).In fact I heal my wounds by packing white sugar in the wound and putting a bandage over it.A physican taught me that,his name was Dr.Roland at Pinehurst hospital.This was done in ancient times to heal wounds before hospitals and drugstores were born.Also the no spanking rule was done by man and can be restored if man gets pagan men out of goverment and puts the right one over this.Childern retaliating were like some words now ,never spoken at schools. No one,the Preacher,the Governor,or chief of our military would have convinced a man who was God at Ellerbe school that he could not spank a child ,he even used his fist if occasion called for it,and this was in the fifties.He may have been called Satan by some,but not loud enough for him to hear.His name was Mr.Little,a short man but tall in the eyes of the students,feared more than the Pope.When my children started to school I put them in front of me and laid out job descriptions.My job was to rule at home since I was the head of the home(not my wife,she prepares the honey do list).Then I told them the teachers were to take care of the education end that I may not could provide.To quote-It does not matter to me if your teacher is tall or short ,black or white or any other color ,fat or skinny,bald or with hair,man or woman,whether you like them or not,they are the teacher.You mind your own business ,bring home acceptable grades,no not backtalk anyone over you.If you cause the school any problems and I hear about it,then your trouble is with the one who helped create you,thats me.My children did not refuse a command from me and never to my knowledge had any problems with a teacher.My two oldest girls can not remember me ever spanking them.Why?You start at birth making sure that you love them but you do not let them control you. Yes,I would have cryed also if that would make my Mother pick me up ever TIME>I still say its mind control that controls.Any person on this earth can stop any good or bad habit.I used to drink,quit by saying thats it,no more .I recently quit drinking all drinks with caffeine in them for two months to see if I could ,I did.After this I returned to coffee.Why would I start again ,its like ice cream ,some prefer it over coffee,I like coffee.My Doctor at Ellerbe First Health told me if I wanted to loose weight to spit out the food that tasted good.I quit using so much good tasting stuff and it works.ITS CALLED MIND CONTROL,TRY IT FOLKS,YOU MAY LIKE IT.

Government education at its finest.

easy3,

I respect your opinion, however, "bear" and "bare" are not spelled the same; the sound is same and as you stated have different meanings. The schools cannot revive corporal punishment....too many civil rights and abuse laws. Besides, if a teacher physically had contact with a student...well, another reason for the student to retaliate. Parents do have responsibility to teach their children to have respect, manners, and instill good habits. Sadly, once peer pressure begins in a school environment, the child is responsible to make good decisions. All the blame should not fall on the parents or the teachers. In part, this contributes to the attitude of the upcoming generation. Our parents and grandparents undoubtedly thought the same about our generation. People succeed or fail. Sometimes it centers on opportunity. Sometimes it is because of determination to achieve a better outcome.

The RCDJ needs to hire a decent editor! This young man needs a tutor, but I get what he's saying and commend him for having the courage to do so!

Just wow!

OMG! Let's stop critcizing him for his poor grammar and find out how students are being discriminated against.

I told those who criticized that I mistakes and proved it in my post,did I do this on purpose or by mistake,either way its the meaning of the word that count.One can even judge if its righteous judgement and not false judgement.Is this not a fact?Criticism is the forming of judgements according to Mr. Webster so how many have written letters saying I do not judge.Yes,I plead guilty Judge,I have been there and done that and will probably do it again. The mouth can no man tame.Is this correct or is another word needed?

After re-reading this letter I realized that not only is this student lacking in english skills,but he is woefully behind in math. Mr. Singletary if one does a 360 they are are exactly where they started from. Do you mean a 180, which is a turn-around.

Mr. Singletary, I am disturbed by the fact that you have acheived the status of senior at RSHS and still do not have the skills to master the 5th grade writing classes much less the high school level. Please read a newspaper or book, and learn how to write a sentence correctly.

To those who posted their comments I would like to add mine.I do not sit in the judgement seat and critize this young man who voiced his opinion nor do I sit in judgenment of any other regardless of race,language ,or opinions.Opinions are like body parts ,for most of us are born with the same parts,we all have them.I also have an opinion that I would like to share if the Editor will aprove this letter.I remember several letters that were printed in the Journal that critized the Journal. The Editor and Publisher are directly responsible for this paper and many letters critize unjustly and do not encourage .Yes,if the shoe fits wear it ,if not change it.I am especially critical of the way that parents do not study to improve themselves to their children.Most of the students in schools for the mentally retarded are more orderly when out in public places than those in High schools today.Is this not a fact?These children go into their lunch room,sit down in ordrerly manner and do not start eating until someone blessed the food when its against the law to do that in public schools if you do it out loud.Why don"t our rightous leaders change that?Why don't preachers change that?Why not invite this young man to your house and help him in the areas he needs help him in?Does his parents have the education to improve his skills?If so,why not home school?Many of the America's leaders had no formal schooling ,they said the "n" word as many leaders in our county have done,so lets critize that.I am not perfect,so do the same to me.Your son,my son,the preachers son,politicians sons and all sons can grow up to not only use bad grammar but bad words.Children are the responsibily of the parents,bad parents can produce bad children at times.Good parents can produce good children if they play with good children.One bad apple can spoil all those on the play ground.Its about mind control,if every men could control his mind and stay under the influence of the greatest mind that created the human mind the worlds troubles would be over.We would be living in heaven on earth with him ruling with a rod of iron,and there would be no sin.Is this letter fact or fiction?Common sense is what this county needs.I only have common sense like the young man who wrote the letter so I cannot help him.But our counties most finest can.Why not put the rod back in the schools,it will not kill them if applied properly,or we can do its Mrs.Clintons way and let the village raise them ,that what she said,it takes a vaiiage to raise a child.A village is a group of people, thats what schools are made of and families also so I ask you folks ,who is responsible for my child,you or me? This young man critized the school management,others do also,he used inadequate words,politicians do also and you have also an so do I do not honor this young man nor do I praise him .I honor only my Mother and My Father and the one who createh all. I do thank him for giving me this opportunity to express my my opinion and I may have a words spelled wrong.Its not the way you spell a word ,its the meaning of the word that counts .Many words are spelled the same wayand have different meanings .For instance,will Ifrom a Bear or Bare?

Were the grammar mistakes intentional?

The bad grammar, spelling, and punctuation made this letter extremely difficult to read. These errors make it quite a challenge to understand exactly what the author's message is. I am disappointed and saddened that a student can get to their senior year in high school and not write any better than this. My comments may sound harsh, but I do not mean this as an attack on the author. In fact, I commend him for taking a stand on something that he feels strongly about. However, I also cannot help but to feel that this is not entirely the fault of the school system either.

Mr. Singletary,

Education is a two-way street; students and teachers working toward a common goal. Admittedly, administrators and teachers may not have the mindset of the current generation, which tends to be self-centered. I am of the old school and as I read your letter I was taken aback by your poor writing and communication skills. It appears that you have not acquired much knowledge from you English classes. I encourage you to concentrate on learning. Job and college applications reveal much about the applicant. My impression of you is that you have insight but lack the education to communicate it intelligently. Leave the "politics" to others and concentrate on gaining the knowledge you need to improve your life. Best of luck.