SC needs information literacy courses for students, a reader writes

Info literacy

Our second president, John Adams, stated, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” Unfortunately, information is more convincingly alterable than ever before. Social media has become the source of news for many of our young folks. We need to protect our youth from falling victim to dangerous disinformation campaigns. South Carolina needs to pass an information literacy curriculum to protect our students from propaganda and fear mongering. Information literacy means understanding how information is created and the context in which it is used. Other countries and states have already implemented measures to educate their communities to identify unethical use of information. Since 2016, Finland has been successfully educating their children to be fluent in digital information sources. New Jersey approved an information literacy curriculum bill this past September. The South Carolina Department of Education should consider adopting similar standards that teach our students to identify disinformation and misinformation.

Jennifer Brown, McCormick

Clyburn was right

To castigate Congressman James Clyburn for his accurate analogy is a clear example of redirected verbal aggression. MAGA Republican behavior tracks that of the Nazi takeover of the German government, from the “gathering storm” to the Beer Hall Putsch by the various “militia” type groups, and beyond. Direct your admonishment where it belongs, not to those who, like Rep Clyburn, warn those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.

Claire Lobel, Hilton Head

Study up

Most of the counting has been done and it’s about official that the election process will soon be over. Regardless of all the promises that have been made, the reality is that the elected officials, who are supposed to represent the people, are actually going to be working for the party bosses. Some people cast their ballots but did not do the proper research to know the positions that their candidate had taken. Many voted along party lines that they were raised with, by race, or group association rather than on issues. We have one of the best political systems in the world that enables us to live the lifestyles that we have. Our dominant position in the world is threatened by foreign powers that have arisen in the last 70 years because our majority party will focus on eliminating whatever programs the previous administration implemented instead of creating new solutions to our problems. Fortunately, we can change this. Before the next election, it is up to each one of us to study the issues and get a clear view of the problems so that we can figure out the best solutions that will benefit us and future generations.

James Muldrow, Columbia

Bonnie Raitt platform?

Governor Henry McMaster’s acceptance speech included some words from a Bonnie Raitt song: “We’ve got four more years to go, we’ve got more work to do, so let’s give ‘em something to talk about.” We indeed have work to do in SC, which rates 49th in school rankings, 39th in overall child well being and 34th in healthcare. So Governor, let’s get to work to improve the lives of all of our citizens. Maybe then, we will have something to talk about!

Ceil Treiss, Hilton Head

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