South Carolina Education

In the early 1980s, a group of Southern governors sought to reshape their region by dramatically changing their public schools. They stumped their states to win broad support for smaller classes, better-paid teachers, higher graduation standards and--most important of all--the extra tax money to pay for these improvements. This group included Bill Winter of Mississippi, Jim Hunt of North Carolina, Bob Graham of Florida, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Richard W.

In the early 1980s, a group of Southern governors sought to reshape their region by dramatically changing their public schools. They stumped their states to win broad support for smaller classes, better-paid teachers, higher graduation standards and--most important of all--the extra tax money to pay for these improvements. This group included Bill Winter of Mississippi, Jim Hunt of North Carolina, Bob Graham of Florida, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Richard W.

The European currency crisis that spread fear and consternation throughout the world last week was both extremely close to and yet far away from South Carolina. This green and pleasant state of 3.5 million people--with proportionately more foreign investment than any other--is doing a little better than the rest of the country. Its unemployment rate at 6.5% is lower than the national average. And South Carolina doesn't much fear currency fluctuations.

The European currency crisis that spread fear and consternation throughout the world last week was both extremely close to and yet far away from South Carolina. This green and pleasant state of 3.5 million people--with proportionately more foreign investment than any other--is doing a little better than the rest of the country. Its unemployment rate at 6.5% is lower than the national average. And South Carolina doesn't much fear currency fluctuations.

A sneak preview of the 1986-87 Public Broadcasting Service television season suggests few surprises for viewers of the non-commercial TV network. Even the promise of three major new series indicates little in the way of change, reflecting a conservative mood within public broadcasting at a time when member stations are pressured financially and when viewers are indicating satisfaction with the current PBS schedule, which is in large part shaped by the stations.

President Obama finally named his pick to head the long-neglected Consumer Product Safety Commission on Tuesday and called for a big increase in funding for the agency. That's the good news. The bad news is that it looks as if he's using the appointment as a political pat on the head for a prominent supporter, and not necessarily as a first step toward kick-starting an agency that for too long has come up short in safeguarding the public.

A favorite money-raiser of churches and school clubs, the raffle goes big time next month when the California Lottery launches a game with million-dollar prizes. Modeled after a raffle held by the Pennsylvania Lottery in 2005 and copied by 10 other states since, the California Lottery raffle is expected to generate $7 million to $8 million for public schools in a 40-day spurt of ticket-buying. Tickets go on sale Feb. 5 and will be available until 6 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day, March 17.

The term "only your hairdresser knows for sure," has taken on a whole new meaning in Columbia, S.C., where cosmetologist DiAna DiAna offers AIDS education to clients who routinely turn simple dye-jobs into confessions of sexual exploits and dreaded fears.