Highway marker

I attended the Jan. 27 Charleston County School Board meeting and listened to the public commentary as the community brought forth many concerns. Several people spoke of the need for better transparency concerning matters such as finances and the superintendent's performance evaluation. One parent spoke of vaping in school restrooms, held up a vaping tool clearly marketed to teens and pled for better enforcement.

Then there was a large group of people in the room who praised the character of Gen. Robert E. Lee and insisted that his highway marker be returned to the grounds of the Charleston Charter School for Math and Science, adjacent to a road that was at one time called the General Robert E. Lee Highway.

I had read about this issue in The Post and Courier, and I have taken some time to do more research. The stone marker's history is interesting. It is relatively young, placed by the United Daughters of the Confederacy soon after World War II. I don't think anyone would dispute that it was placed to instill pride in students, but I also suspect it was intended to remind some students that they were subordinates. I see some irony in placing the marker soon after World War II, when numerous exemplary generals fought a war against immorality.

Today, the Charleston County School District is steadfastly resisting the marker in a lawsuit filed by the local United Daughters of the Confederacy chapter. Markers such as this appear to promote the impression that the Civil War was a good fight. We should be mindful that slavery is not the only means of exploiting workers, and we are still learning the importance of fair treatment of all.

The School District's position is consistent with fostering respect for all citizens. Express your support to the district for sticking to its guns.

PAUL SNYDERWINE

Mount Pleasant

Lessons learned

Snow and ice came and stayed beyond their welcome here in the Lowcountry, but I think we all learned something from the rare winter event. I for one learned not to make snow angels in a dog park.

CHARLES THOMPSON JR.

Charleston

Redo traffic signs

An editorial Wednesday bemoaned a cell tower as a visual blight assaulting motorists on the Charleston Crosstown. Am I the only one who noticed the hypocrisy?

Motorists on a multi-lane road that eviscerates a community need their delicate eyes protected from a toilet paper roll?

In another letter, the writer asks for red-light cameras. The accompanying photo of stop lights armed with multiple signs should be the poster child for bad design. These jumbled signs appear on many streets but somehow fail to warrant discussions.

I'll gladly trade one toilet paper roll for a redo of our traffic signs.

DENNIS ASHLEY

Folly Beach

Send us your letters

What's on your mind? Join our community conversations and let your voice be heard by writing a letter to the editor. Letters can be a maximum of 250 words, and are subject to editing for clarity, tone and libel. They must include the writer's name and city for publication, and a daytime telephone number for verification. Email your submissions to [email protected] or fill out the form on our online portal.