Join CERRA as we work together to change South Carolina
In February more than 20,000 signatures were submitted to the Goodbye Minimally Adequate campaign during South Carolina Teacher Forum sponsored by the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement. 2009 South Carolina Teacher of the Year Jenna Hallman issued a challenge to the state’s district teachers of the year in the fall of 2008 as she traveled the state. The science specialist from Anderson School District Five challenged each of them to gather signatures in support of the Goodbye Minimally Adequate campaign, an awareness and advocacy program launched by award-wining producer and director Bud Ferillo. His 2005 documentary “Corridor of Shame” exposes the neglect of South Carolina’s rural schools.
The group of teachers submitted 20,473 signatures to Ferillo following his address at the workshop. Six kindergarteners from Myrtle Beach’s Forestbrook Elementary School delivered the stacks of petitions in two Radio Flyer wagons in a symbolic gesture to Ferillo, who was speechless as the total number of signatures flashed on the screen behind him. “These kids are our future,” Hallman said. “These children are going to be the ones who are going to make the difference. They’re going to solve the problems that we have inadvertently created.”
The campaign’s goal is to collect one million signatures with the intent of changing the state constitution’s expectation of the quality of education the children of South Carolina are to receive. Presently, the law says a student must be given a “minimally adequate” education. With one million signatures the goal is to establish “a high quality education, allowing every student to reach their highest potential” as our state standard for public education in our state constitution.
Your challenge... How to get 100 signatures:
1. If you have not yet signed the petition please do so (click the advertisement above).
2. Then, ask 10 friends or family members to sign the petition.
3. Ask those 10 friends to forward to petition to 10 more people encouraging them to sign the petition.
It's that simple to generate 100 signatures.
Here's a hint: ANY SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENT AT LEAST 5 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER IS ELIGIBLE TO SIGN THE PETITION. (That should help you out in reaching the 100 signature challenge.)
Download and print the petition and take it with you to the grocery store, to the gas station, to community events... together, we can make a difference every day!
Please mail or fax the completed forms to:
Goodbye Minimally Adequate
P.O. Box 5975, Columbia, SC 29250
Fax: (803) 799-8019