I have been working on this script:

<script type="text/javascript" src="/js/jquery.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
$(function(){
    compentecy = $('#competency_id');
    $('#add_competency').bind('click', function(e){
        e.preventDefault();
        $.post('/script.php', {competency_id: compentecy.val(), syllabus_id: 2}, function(){
            // competency = $('#competency_id');
            competency.children('option[value=' + compentecy.val() + ']').remove();
        });
    });
});
</script>

in the $.post callback function, it seems that I can't access global variables. I tried $.competency but it didn't work. I always get a "competency is undefined" error. I had to reinitialize the variable once again inside the callback. Is there a way to NOT reinitialize the variable inside the callback?