VALDOSTA — In the Dr. Seuss’ classic “Horton Hears a Who,” it took all of the Whos in Whoville to make a difference.
Everyone counted ... no matter how small.
The same lesson could be applied to the Census.
No matter a person’s age, height, race, creed, or religion, everyone matters. Everyone must be counted.
By being counted, each person helps the community.
How?
The number of people living in the region determines how much federal money Valdosta-Lowndes County will receive in the next decade. The more people: The more federal dollars, the more congressional representation, etc.
For every completed census form, for every counted person, the community receives $1,700 per person per year, said Lowndes County Complete Count Co-Chair Sam Allen.
The census reflects whether our region’s population is growing, remains stagnant, or is decreasing.
South Georgians may know our region is growing. Through the census, we can let the government and the rest of the nation know we’re growing, too.
So, it’s an important issue. One that The Valdosta Daily Times is going to feature today and the next couple of weekends in our Sunday editions.
We want all Valdosta-Lowndes County residents to be counted, and we want our readers to better understand how the accurate numbers can work for us. And how not responding to the census can count against us.
Everyone counts ... no matter how small.
What We Think
What We Think: Are you down for the count?
- 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 ...
- More What We Think Headlines
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Leaving NCLB behind
