Here are excerpts from recent editorials in Arkansas newspapers:
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Nov. 5, 2018.
For years, those hoping to reform education in Arkansas advocated for bonuses to be paid to the best schools and teachers - in the form of merit pay, because it was thought that rewarding excellence would improve schools. Then somebody thought about rewarding schools that not only performed the best - as measured by student test scores_but rewarding the schools that made the most improvement, too. Thus was born the Arkansas School Recognition Program.
Such programs have been in the law in one form or another for years. Governor Mike Beebe began funding this program, often out of discretionary funds. But now this is an annual initiative - and one of the best investments out of the billions this state alone spends on K-12 education. Last week, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Education Commissioner Johnny Key handed out $7 million to 175 schools around the state. For years the state focused on punishing schools for low performance. So it is a welcome change to reward schools that excel. Principals and teachers also get a kick out of being recognized for their best efforts_and should be more often.
The state measured the 2018 ACT Aspire Exams from the spring, and handed out rewards to those districts that did the best. The law says that financial awards are given to the top 5 percent and 10 percent of the top academic performing schools, and the top 5 percent and 10 percent of schools that made the most improvement from the prior year. The money can be used for staff bonuses, equipment or hiring extra help, with all those decisions made at the local school.
One school, Roberts Elementary in Little Rock, was given nearly $185,000 because it ranked on both scales: best and most improved. Several schools in Cabot and Bismarck were singled out in both categories, too.
(Here’s an idea: If we can’t bottle what’s going on at Roberts Elementary, Cabot and Bismarck, why not have teachers there spread out across the state, to show how it’s done?)
In the news last week, and often enough most weeks, were the stories about bad news in our public education system. Failing schools, poor test scores, teachers fighting with administrators and/or the state. But every once in a while - at least once a year when these reward checks are cut - the good news will out.
Congratulations all around. And not just to those hard-working teachers, principals and students, but to our political leaders who know a good program when they fund it.
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Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Nov. 5, 2018.
Our state’s second-largest city is looking at enacting a spay-neuter ordinance to combat the rising number of stray animals and overcrowded shelters. It’s a wonder why more cities don’t have similar policies.
In September, Fort Smith’s HOPE Humane Society said its facility had twice as many animals as it was designed for. Here’s more from Talk Business & Politics: “HOPE Humane Society Vice President Storm Nolan addressed the Board on Sept. 4 to push for consideration of a spay-neuter ordinance. He said the HOPE facility had 622 pets as of last Friday in a facility only designed to hold 300. He said the organization has taken in around 1,900 animals through August, with the trend suggesting that around 2,900 animals will come through the facility in 2018. Nolan called the issue ’a city problem.’”
A city problem indeed. And a state problem. See North Little Rock’s shelter, or, why, any number of animal shelters across the state.
A spay-neuter ordinance is a practical solution to a realistic problem. In a perfect world, dog and cat owners would keep their animals under control so they wouldn’t roam around the city, mate uncontrollably and produce more puppies and kittens that’ll grow up to do the same thing.
Of course, we don’t live in a perfect world, and the fact of the matter is far too many people simply let their dogs and cats run wild. The result: too many puppies and kittens (and believe us, there is such a thing).
Unless you’re a licensed breeder, your pet doesn’t need to mate. And if you think you can’t afford the procedure, think again. Many shelters and vets offer free or discounted rates when it comes to spaying and neutering animals.
So we’d encourage Fort Smith to adopt some sort of spay-neuter ordinance. If a city can tell you how fast you can drive on its streets or what time of the year you can post political signs on your property, and if it’s using taxpayer money to fund shelters, it can have a spay ordinance on the books. Call it a public health decision.
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Texarkana Gazette. Nov. 5, 2018.
Sometimes the media is criticized for sensationalizing a story and then, when the hoopla dies down, failing to report the outcome.
And often the criticism is justified.
Take the case of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Allegations of sexual assault leveled against Kavanaugh drew a lot of headlines and TV coverage. A lot.
The judge denied the allegations. There were hearings where both sides were heard. And in the end a majority in the Senate voted to confirm Kavanaugh to the court.
But what many may not know - at least not yet - is that late Saturday, the Senate Judiciary Committee issued its full report on its investigation into Kavanaugh allegations.
The committee found no evidence to support the allegations against Kavanaugh.
“This was a serious and thorough investigation that left no stone unturned in our pursuit of the facts. In the end, there was no credible evidence to support the allegations against the nominee,” U.S. Sen Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a prepared statement
That’s the rest of the story.
No doubt here are those who will cry “cover up” or continue to believe Kavanaugh guilty of wrongdoing. Nothing anyone can say will change that.
We agree any accusation of sexual assault or misconduct should be taken seriously. But it’s important to remember in this country we do not convict on words alone. The allegations against Kavanaugh were heard and they were investigated. There was no evidence. And in the end, evidence is what matters.
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