To the Editor:

Our country’s educational system is failing to prepare our children, ranking 17th of 40 major countries, according to the Economist Intelligent Unit.

U.S. and World Report ranks South Carolina 50th in overall education. 24/7 Wall St. lists S.C. 9th worst with a D + score: 12th lowest per pupil investment, $10,140; 5th lowest in high school graduates, 72.0 percent; 16th lowest in eighth grade math deficiency, 30.8 percent; and with Bachelor Degree teachers starting at an embarrassing $34,467.

The local daily newspaper reported one out of 20 third graders statewide could be held back due to reading deficiencies under a new state law.

According to U.S.A. Today, “parents play perhaps the largest role in the development of their children.” Further, in the top states, more than half the children have at least one parent with a post-secondary degree.

Yes, the educational environment begins at home; parental responsibilities must be addressed.

Locally, our Beaufort County school system is a reflection of these challenging national issues.

Questionable direction and constant bickering negatively affect progress at both administration and board levels.

Past board longevity has discouraged fresh, positive ideas.

The current board chairman is serving his 27th year. How about term limits?

What can be done?

Many board members are up for election in 2018. Fulfill your citizen responsibility, support candidates who will aggressively strive to improve our children’s education as they face an extremely competitive world.

Our children, the nation’s future.

Earle Everett

Hilton Head Island

To the Editor:

Just wanted to thank Glenda Harris for her Dec. 19, 2017, article about and recommendation of the police procedural novels by Lowcountry resident Brian Thiem.

I am definitely a fan of the genre and have sampled his first novel onto my Kindle, which, from the sounds of the novel summary and reviews, I’m pretty sure I’ll wind up buying.

I’ve recently become addicted to the novels by Scott Pratt, featuring the D.A. Joe Dillard. I’m currently on my third one, making my way through the series.

I love watching TV series and reading novels about anything to do with processing crime scenes, collecting and protecting evidence, interviewing suspects, witnesses and persons of interest. Thiem’s novels sound like they will fit that bill. I’ll be starting with his first one.

Barbara Costa

Bluffton