Getting kids to stay in school and graduate is the most pressing challenge facing the Richmond County School System, according to Shirley Darby.
The candidate for the Board of Education's District 9 seat said that in her part-time teaching job at Augusta Technical College, she encounters students who dropped out in ninth or 10th grade who are reading at a third- or fourth-grade level.
"We definitely need to hold parents accountable, but I think we need to look at what the schools are doing to cause kids to drop out in the first place," she said. "I would do some things with the curriculum, add some courses in there for the things young people are interested in. We used to have horticulture and industrial arts and courses like that."
Darby said the public schools need to take students' individual needs into account to make sure they have the best chance of succeeding.
"We also need to do some creative scheduling," she said. "If a young person is working at, say, McDonald's and he's getting home at 11 at night, and then in his first-period class he has to face Macbeth, for example, or a novel -- let him wake up first before he gets into those classes."
Darby said teachers should not have to endure furlough days.
"I want to work to repeal furlough days," she said. "I think kids ought to be in school 180 days, if not more."
AGE: 66
OCCUPATION: Retired teacher, Evans High School; part-time teacher in adult education program, Augusta Technical College
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in English, minor in French, Paine College
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Former president, Columbia County Association of Educators; member of Coliseum Authority
STATEMENT: I want to be an advocate for the children and teachers of Richmond County. As an educator, I have 32 years of experience.
Great Educator - Good Person - Positive Ideas - Caring Person. Mrs. Darby was excellent at Evans High School and has plenty of educational experience. I would like to know her views on discipline and public safety as well but otherwise I think she is on the right track.
What a great adventure being in Shirley Darby's literature class at Columbia Jr. High in the early 70's. She made you feel the story. I didn't make great grades all the time, but for sure...she's always done her best to motivate kids to read and learn enthusiastically. I still love to read and my children do too. Thanks for a GREAT job for many years.
You would certainly have my endorsement in Columbia County if you were running here.
I went back to read further comments on this article and my disappointment is large as there seems to be very little interest in our educational system. People (parents, teachers, clery, students and others) from all walks of life want to know what has happened to our children and our schools. Too many people have just given up because they are not motivated, are too lazy or just flat do not care what happens. If you're too busy complaining or whatever it is that makes you too busy to care about just putting forth a tad of energy for our future and our children and grandchildren's future maybe you should consider homeschooling your children and living in your own little world. (I believe they call that a commune). WOW! Shouldn't we care more about our teachers and our students? At least give some positive feed back about something. Mrs. Darby...I am proud to have been a student in Columbia County and have been in your class. Thanks for your positive reinforcement and your discipline.
I am so grateful that she didn't win, for the sake of future students. Anyone that says she is a caring person was never a former student of hers. As an educator, I'm unsure the word "innovative" was in her vocabulary. She tried to intimidate students, asking questions in a loud, commanding voice. When you couldn't answer, she would ask why you didn't do the assignment in an accusatory tone. If you answered truthfully and stated that you didn't care much for the writing style of the author or found the novel to be less than compelling, she would speak louder and even go so far as to shame the student for telling the truth of how the assignment occurred for them.
I think her attitude was better suited for college students, but regardless of whether or not I had been 14 or 21, her style of teaching would have been a tremendous turn off for me. Respect is not given, it is earned. That goes for educators, as well. Twenty years later, I still remember how much I disliked her classes and I have a strong distaste for the classics as a result of her attitude.
One can't be expected to love the classics, teachers can only adequately explain why they are to be appreciated (something she never did, only chastised when we found them less than fascinating). Best of luck to you, Mrs. Darby, but please choose another career path.
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