Editorial Archives

California unions put turf over the life of children

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in Editorial Archives

Friday, September 9. 2011

Comments (16)

There was a time in American history where unions served a good purpose. Although manipulated in the early years by various political factions, unions eventually changed many of the abuses in sweatshops, mines and other industries.
[Full Story »]

Asking questions saved Barrow from tax hike

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Editorial Archives

Thursday, September 1. 2011

Comments (35)

Newspaper reporters can be a pain in the ass. I admit it. We’re a bunch of nosey people who ask questions, dig through documents and generally pester the stew out of public officials. [Full Story »]

Barrow schools need to focus on weak Math instruction

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Editorial Archives

Friday, August 26. 2011

Comments (6)

It’s no secret that in its education efforts, Barrow County has some problems. Nowhere is that more evident than in its Math instruction. [Full Story »]

Individuals often trump ideas in political arena

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Editorial Archives

Friday, August 19. 2011

Comments (0)

I grew up under the notion that ideas, not individuals, were important. Under this assumption, individuals are just vessels through which the larger ideas were carried out. It was the idea, not people, that was really important. [Full Story »]

Tax abatement wasn’t a good deal for Barrow County

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Editorial Archives

Friday, August 5. 2011

Comments (13)

Employing tax abatements to lure private investment into a community is not always a bad thing. Despite the tax implications, sometimes using abatements can help create new jobs or create a synergy of investment that grows into the future. [Full Story »]

AYP standards are unfair in how they evaluate schools

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Editorial Archives

Friday, July 29. 2011

Comments (15)

Should Barrow County citizens be concerned that five of its schools failed to make Adequately Yearly Progress this year?
The answer: Yes and no. [Full Story »]

Lowering housing size would be bad economic move

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Editorial Archives

Friday, July 22. 2011

Comments (5)

A committee looking at Barrow County’s rules and regulations has recommended that the county government lower the minimum house size to 1,400 sq. ft., down from 1,600 sq. ft. [Full Story »]

CRCT results by school are out: What do they mean?

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Editorial Archives

Friday, July 15. 2011

Comments (6)

The individual school CRCT results are finally out and a summary of Barrow County school results was published in the Journal last week. [Full Story »]

Barrow should learn from Athens’ development problems

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Editorial Archives

Friday, July 8. 2011

Comments (3)

With the proposal by Stan Coley to create a research park on Hwy. 316, economic development is back on the table for discussion in Barrow County. [Full Story »]

Barrow CRCT results: Just mediocre

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Editorial Archives

Friday, July 1. 2011

Comments (2)

The reporting of local school test scores is one of the most difficult assignments a newspaper faces. Test score data doesn’t exist in a vacuum and without some context, it really doesn’t mean very much. [Full Story »]

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