What about education??
Jan 12th, 2011 by Cathy Jo Nelson
Above is a wordle of the top 25 words used in Governor Nikki Haley’s Inaugural Speech. Glaringly missing is any reference to education….her own or our public schools. Sure it’s too soon to look for any mention of education. I did read in the paper that she did state recently as Governor no less that all state employees should be prepared for massive budget cuts.
So I’m watching this family. I want to see where Governor Nikki Haley puts her 12yo daughter and even younger son in terms of schooling and their education. If she does like all our other republican governors of the past, they will be enrolled in private schools. So she won’t be a stakeholder in this fight to maintain jobs or even the status quo in our schools. But I’ll wait and see. I’m not optimistic.
Want to read her acceptance speech yourself? Here is it:
I want to thank each and every one of you for coming out on this beautiful, chilly morning.
On this special day, I want to thank Michael and my two sweet children for the unconditional love and support they continue to show me. We as a family are honored to serve this great state.
Nikki Haley
Michael and I want to thank both of our families for the strength, guidance, and advice they give us during the best and the most challenging times. They are constant reminders of what it means to carry ourselves with grace and dignity.
We want to thank Governor Mark Sanford for his service to South Carolina and his fight for the citizens of this state.
To Mrs. Jenny Sanford, thank you for representing South Carolina with strength and grace for the last eight years. Your friendship has meant so much to our family.
To the Sanford boys, thank you for allowing the people of South Carolina the opportunity to watch you grow up into fine young men. Rena and Nalin look forward to continuing your games and mazes at the Mansion.
Today is a great day in South Carolina!
It’s a day for new beginnings. It’s a day to turn the page from the past. And it’s a day filled with anticipation of the next chapter in our state’s future.
Before we talk about our bright future, it’s important to pay respect to our past. Our state has an incredibly powerful and rich history. It is one that has not always been pleasant, but one that can teach us many great lessons.
We have a history of fierce independence, and that independence has some remarkable relevance for us today. While in 1773 it was the Tea Party in Boston that became famous, there was also a whole lot of tea dumped in the Charleston harbor that December. We declared independence from Great Britain some four months before Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. And at Kings Mountain just over our northern border, our local militia – not professional soldiers – helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War that brought us the freedom we still enjoy to this day.
Let’s see: tax protests, tea parties, the grassroots beating the professionals – it does have a certain familiar ring to it.
Of course, when talking about our past, it would be wrong to mention our greatness during the revolutionary period without noting the ugliness of much that followed. The horrors of slavery and discrimination need not be retold here. They too remain a part of our history and a part of the fabric of our lives.
But I do take comfort in, and agree with, the words of columnist George Will, when he recently wrote this about our state’s past struggles: “If the question is which state has changed most in the last half-century, the answer might be California. But if the question is which state has changed most for the better, the answer might be South Carolina.”
I stand before you today, the proud daughter of Indian immigrants. Growing up in rural, small town South Carolina, my family experienced this state and this country at its best. No, not every day was perfect. No, we were not always free from the burdens faced by those who look and sound different.
But we counted our blessings, and my parents reminded me and my brothers and sister every day how blessed we were to live in this country. We saw the constant example of neighbors helping neighbors.
For us, happiness existed in not knowing what we didn’t have, and in knowing that what we did have was the opportunity to better our lives through hard work and strong values.
You see, my mother was offered one of the first female judgeships in her native country, but was unable to serve on the bench because of the challenges of being a woman in India. Now she sits here today watching her daughter become Governor of South Carolina, the state she proudly calls her home. When you grow up with a mom like that, the word “can’t” is not in your vocabulary.
The text from this speech came from The Herald Online: http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/01/12/2749655/full-text-of-gov-nikki-haleys.html#ixzz1AquAJ7rv
A most pertinent question asked. The Wordle provides graphic emphasis.
Cathy,
I watched the Inauguration yesterday and do remember her mentioning education – don’t remember if it was “to improve” or “to ensure” the education for all children in SC. Could easily mean those danged tuition vouchers.
Yep. Keep a close eye on where those two children will be going to school. That will speak volumes.
Cathy, I did the same thing when our new Governor took office. I didn’t post the Wordle, but plan to. Your post reminded me of yet another post I need to share.
With that being said, education is one of the smaller words, which certainly tells me his priorities.