There is a good reason for some unusual distractions in several Kershaw County classrooms this month.

State legislators are taking part in an annual back-to-school program that puts leaders in direct contact with school administrators, teachers and students.

The program, running through next week, reminds legislators about their own school experiences while making them aware of what’s happening at the ground level today.

“I think there’s a lot of misconception about what goes on in schools,” said Reggie Dean, principal of Camden High.

Their participation in the program lets legislators see that “teachers are teaching, students are learning, and it’s a positive environment to be in,” he added.

On Monday, two lawmakers — Rep. Laurie Funderburk and Sen. Vincent Sheheen — visited five Camden High classes with a virtual entourage in tow, including the principal, business partners, several district officials, a librarian and two students from the school’s newspaper staff.

After the visits, educators spoke with legislators to discuss concerns.

Topping their list of concerns was testing — the amount of testing as well as school officials’ concern that it often yields little useful information.

“It’s just frustrating that I don’t have data to work with,” said superintendent Frank Morgan. “We end up having to give more tests to more students to get the data we want.”

As state Education Superintendent Jim Rex evaluates the way testing is done, Funderburk and Sheheen agreed schools are among the most important issues they deal with.

“I think we really need to look for a system to improve the testing we currently have in place,” Sheheen said later. Other issues that came up:

— * Dean said he wished there were a combined school and job training program for students who are at risk of not graduating. An alternative diploma could be issued to them, he said.

— * Teachers voiced challenges with the district’s laptop program. Students can’t follow along using their computers when they’re broken, they said, and other times, students prefer to use pencil and paper.

— * Although students weren’t part of the talk with legislators, two offered their views on school issues. Perhaps, they said, something could be done about the bathrooms, some of which lack soap. They also mentioned the some students manage to find their way around restrictions on Web sites they are allowed to view at school.

Reach Woodson at (803) 771-8692

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SCHOOL DAYS

Four legislators visited Kershaw County schools this month, as part of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators’ Legislators Back-to-School program. There are still a few schools on the list to be visited, including North Central High, North Central Middle, Stover Middle and Blaney Elementary. Here are some tidbits from lawmakers about their school days.

Rep. Laurie Funderburk

** Job: Attorney

** Schools attended: Lugoff Elementary, Lugoff-Elgin Middle, Lugoff- Elgin High

** Favorite school cafeteria food: Baked potatoes

** Favorite subject: English

** Bet you didn’t know: She was voted most talented in high school for her musical prowess on several instruments.

Sen. Joel Lourie

** Job: Businessman

** Schools attended: Bradley Elementary (Richland 1) and Forest Lake Elementary; E.L. Wright Middle, Dent Junior, Spring Valley High and Richland Northeast High (all Richland 2)

** Favorite school cafeteria food: Pizza

** Favorite subject: Social studies

** Bet you didn’t know: The senator also hoped to be a professional basketball player, but he is still working on his jump shot.

Sen. Vincent Sheheen

** Job: Attorney

** Schools attended: Camden Elementary, Camden Middle and Camden High

** Favorite school cafeteria food: Homemade biscuits

** Favorite subject: English

** Bet you didn’t know: The senator wanted to be a veterinarian.

Efforts to reach another local representative, Bill Cotty, who will attend Stover Middle and Blaney Elementary on Friday, were not successful.Caption: (1) by C. ALUKA BERRY/CABERRY@THESTATE.COM – Rep. Laurie Funderburk, left, and Camden High School Academic Booster Club’s Lynn Glisson watch a physical education class as Camden High principal Reggie Dean, second from left, speaks with state Sen. Vincent Sheheen during a tour of the school.Memo: KERSHAW NEIGHBORS