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THUMBS UP: To the Lowndes High School Mock Trial Team for bringing home six awards from the 22nd Annual Georgia Mock Trial Competition in Lawrenceville. Team members David Kenner, Jamie Mauldin, Tumise Asebiomo, Brianna Turner and Brittany Ward won individual awards. The entire defense team received a perfect score in round two.
THUMBS UP: To Valdosta State University’s men’s basketball team for winning the South Region and for its first-ever Elite Eight appearance. The team returned to Valdosta to a hero’s welcome around noon on Wednesday after defeating Clark Atlanta, Arkansas Tech and Rollins, all in Arkansas. VSU basketball has never made it past the Sweet 16 in its 56-year history until now.
THUMBS DOWN: To the paranoia possessing the offices of Valdosta mayor and City Council. While the state reels from proposed budget cuts, the city proposes spending thousands of dollars on bullet-proof shields and other security measures. While we wish nothing more than the continued safety of city officials, we don’t think calls to spend thousands more in taxpayers dollars will do the trick.
THUMBS UP: To Temple Israel for the continued success of its Kosher Corned Beef Sandwich Sale. While some Jewish congregations in other regions struggle with, and have even canceled, similar sales, Temple Israel has faced a reverse problem. So much success, there’s no more room to go. Each year, Temple Israel sells approximately 4,500 sandwiches to the Valdosta-Lowndes County community, with a portion of the proceeds helping area charities.
What We Think
What We Think: Thumbs up, thumbs down
- What We Think
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Leaving NCLB behind
Georgia schools may be sighing in relief today, following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Education granted a waiver to the state, along with nine others, from the rigorous requirements of the No Child Left Behind act.
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Don’t jettison landmark
While we respect the request to relocate the F-86 aircraft from outside Mathis City Auditorium to the new Moody Air Force Base Airpark, we would hope the city and MAFB would reconsider moving it.
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Shame in Berrien County
Unfortunately for Sherrie Williams of the Berrien County school-based health clinic, she talked to The Times and praised the program that she oversees. This pride in her work led to the loss of her job.
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Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Leaving NCLB behind
