Barrow Journal

The first full week in April, also known as Master’s Week throughout most of Georgia, is the traditional spring break period for many of the K-12 schools in our state. Students and teachers use this break to prepare for the upcoming final exams that will mark the end of the academic year. For similar reasons, the General Assembly also took a brief break this week.

This break gave us, as state legislators, a chance to review the status of legislation and prepare for the last three days of the current legislative session, which will take place on Monday, April 11 through Thursday, April 14.

In addition, as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, I spent all of last week in Conference Committee with the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and several other legislators hammering out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the 2012 Budget. After reviewing our work up to this point, I thought it would be a good idea to update you about some key pieces of legislation that have already passed the House and await final passage. [Full Story »] 

There must be thousands of educational websites, apps and video games for kids these days. It can be overwhelming for parents, especially if they aren’t computer savvy to wonder which of these tools they should use for their children, if any.

There are some parents who think that kids should not use a computer (or watch T.V.). However, if children are involved in a variety of activities during their day, and if they use age-appropriate “tech tools,” I believe these devices can be beneficial to children. [Full Story »] 

Since the recession hit in 2007, the Georgia legislature has been faced with balancing the state budget amid sharply declining revenues.

We are constitutionally prohibited from spending more than we take in, which prevents us from running up trillions of dollars in debt like the federal government. Smart financial planning is crucial for any government, just as it is for every family. [Full Story »] 

Thursday, March 31, marked legislative day 37, leaving only three legislative days in the current 40 day session.

Since first starting in January, we have been hard at work introducing, reviewing, and voting on legislation, but there is still much work to be done before the session ends on April 14.

Much of the legislation this week involved bills that create a safer and more prosperous Georgia. I would like to inform you about these pieces of legislation to bring you up to date on the issues that were addressed at your state capitol. [Full Story »] 

It always surprises me when I hear future homeschoolers shopping for a curriculum for preschool.

There are so many tools at our fingertips for teaching preschoolers that a formal curriculum is not necessary at this age. (And there are those who feel it’s not necessary at any age.) In addition, kids learn the most through daily life and having time to explore their worlds freely. [Full Story »]