Dear Editor,

I am writing to remind voters of Barnwell County of our upcoming school board elections April 13.

If you are not a registered to vote, the last date you can register is March 13. The voter registration office is located at 34 Pechmann St. in the agriculture building.

There is no greater public service than someone serving our county in this capacity. These school boards hold the future of the students of our county in their hands. The decisions we make in terms of how we cast our vote in this election will impact the path forward of Barnwell County. The future leaders for Barnwell County are now students in our school systems.

Barnwell County ended the 2009 with an unemployment rate of 20.1 percent, the sixth highest in the state. This unemployment rate compares to a state level of 12.6 percent and a national level of 10 percent. One can debate to what are the main drivers behind the spikes in these rates, but we all can agree that jobs are needed in our county.

Barnwell County continues to actively work on recruiting industry, but we are competing with other states and counties.

One of the more overlooked issues when any industry is considering locating their operations in a county or town, they take a very close look at the school system. If the Barnwell County schools do not meet the criteria of companies, then they are hesitant to locate in our county.

If we are successful in recruiting an industry to locate in our county and our school systems are not on par with competing counties, then the members of their management team will not locate in Barnwell County.

We have observed this when industry has located to this area.

The main goal of the Barnwell County public schools is to provide the best opportunity for all students in preparing them as they begin their next phase of their life. There has to be a joint effort between the home, school and community in developing relationships in promoting the success of our students as they meet life challenges.

Sir William Curtis (1752-1829), was born in Wapping, East London, and the son of a sea biscuit manufacturer. He was a public servant holding numerous public offices and he is credited with providing the definition of the 3Rs as "Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic" from a speech he made at a board of education dinner.

I submit that the 3Rs now required in the 21st century are "Responsibilities of being a good citizen; doing the ‘Right things and having ‘Respect for others and their property." These 3R's has to begin at home by the parents or guardians, reinforced at school and our community.

I encourage everyone who qualifies to vote to exercise your opportunity to vote April 13. It is incumbent upon every registered voter to cast your vote for the candidate of your choice. You may not have children or grandchildren in Barnwell County public schools, but everyone will be impacted by the future direction of our public school systems.

Every vote matters and every vote counts!

Sincerely,

Ben Kinlaw
Barnwell