Editorial Roundup: Georgia

Recent editorials from Georgia newspapers:

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March 31

Valdosta Daily Times on enforcing social distancing guidelines:

Social distancing only works when you actually do it.

While Gov. Brian Kemp failed to order a statewide order for everyone to shelter in place, he did restrict gatherings of more than 10 people.

The city and county have also banned gatherings of more than 10.

People in our community and across the state are ignoring those orders.

If you choose to put yourself at risk that is one thing, but group gatherings put everyone at risk.

Until there is a vaccine, social distancing is the most effective thing any of us can do to combat community spread of the coronavirus.

What you do, or don’t do, affects all the rest of us.

When photos of groups of people gathered at Georgia lakes and parks were circulated online, it prompted the state to issue a warning that it would be enforcing the governor’s order that prohibits public groups of more than 10 people.

But why should people have to be fined or charged with a misdemeanor for violating the common sense order?

We are not saying it is OK for people to violate the order. We are saying the exact opposite.

We believe the order should be enforced.

We believe it should be strictly enforced.

We just think that it is ridiculous that enforcement is necessary.

Public gatherings are simply irresponsible right now.

We have seen large groups of young people here gathering, playing sports, playing in parks or in other kinds of recreation.

Maybe these young people, or their parents, think it is OK because they are young.

It is not.

Young people are getting the virus as well and a toddler has died in another state.

Maybe you think it is OK because no one in your group feels sick.

It is not.

You can have the virus and spread the virus even though you feel perfectly fine, health care experts are saying.

Large groups of young people playing soccer or flag football is just a bad idea and is not social distancing.

Then, there are the churches.

The vast majority of churches have found innovative ways to keep congregants safe while continuing to be engaged. Ranging from live streaming services to parking lot drive-in church, accommodations are being made by responsible faith leaders.

But we have heard some churches are continuing to have in-person services.

Again, it is just irresponsible. Viruses do not know anything about sanctuary walls and there is nothing about worship services that makes people immune.

We believe the governor should have been clear, decisive and smart and issued a statewide shelter in place order. He did not. However, he did ban groups and that ban must be enforced, locally and statewide.

Even beyond that, everyone that can stay home just needs to stay home, stay healthy and stay safe.

Online: https://www.valdostadailytimes.com

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March 30

Savannah Morning News on the effects of the coronavirus on Georgia’s education system:

Local K-12 students have been excused from standardized exams this spring due to coronavirus-related school closures.

An even more daunting test awaits instead, particularly for public school stakeholders.

All Georgia schools will remain closed for at least the next four weeks, or Apri. 24. With Savannah’s schools scheduled to end the academic year on May 15, it’s fair to assume the schools won’t reopen for normal classes again until the 2020-2021 school year begins in August.

It’s also a safe assumption - all but a guarantee, actually - that district leaders won’t declare an early start to summer vacation and push the final weeks of this school year to the start of the next one.

For the time being, independent distance learning is our method of education. Teachers make assignments and offer instruction through internet-based resources, such as school websites, Google Classroom and Zoom, a video conferencing application. Students submit their work and participate in learning using the same technology.

Six days in, the value of the traditional school structure is increasing faster than a kindergartener’s sugar rush after shotgunning two pints of chocolate milk.

Early returns show the situation appears most challenging for parents. Some moms and dads are working from home with children underfoot. Others, those who are required to leave home and report to a job, are struggling to make their employment schedules work with their childcare needs.

That all-important and underappreciated support structure - get the kids out of bed; drop them off at school or the bus stop; go to work; pick them up seven hours later - is gone. Parents must take a more active role in their children’s education.

For some, that’s a worrisome reality. One of many.

BIGGER CHALLENGES AHEAD

Distance learning started nine days ago and the curriculum was largely busy work.

Students were given a document known as a “choice board” that listed tasks focused on reading, math, science and social studies. Students were assigned to complete the task of his or her choice from the board each day.

The approach made sense - students were expected to miss just eight school days, and the goal was to keep the boys and girls engaged and primed to return to the classroom for the final six weeks of school.

Now the district is tasked with educating from afar for an entire grading period.

Leaders are currently finalizing the next phase of their distance learning program. Many students have already moved away from the choice boards and are engaged with teachers through digital platforms.

But not all are. Many don’t have the means to do so.

A number of Savannah households are missing either a computer or an internet connection or both. The extent of this technology gap is not known, but consider that approximately 60% of the county’s 38,000 public school students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches based on family income.

That’s not to say 23,000 students lack access, but it’s conceivable that hundreds and probably a few thousand do face that obstacle.

Meanwhile, the public libraries are closed, denying students access to technology normally available there. Local internet providers AT&T, Comcast and Hargray are all offering basic connections at little to no cost to low-income families, but installing the services and then troubleshooting will be challenging.

Then there’s the hardware shortfall. A basic laptop can now be purchased for $200. Refurbished models cost even less. But in these trying and uncertain economic times, even that investment is too much for many families.

The school system has a supply of laptops that could be loaned out to students. But Savannah-Chatham isn’t in the same position as the Miami-Dade district in Florida, which had 200,000 laptops and tablets available for student issue.

If we can’t get the instructional tools in the hands of students, nothing else matters. Not the eagerness of the teachers or students and not the diligence in oversight by parents.

Superintendent Ann Levett and her team are exploring options to address the technology shortage or find suitable alternatives. They’re an innovative group and worthy of this community’s confidence. But we must be ready to assist them if need be.

Just one more test in what has become a most trying school year.

Online: https://www.savannahnow.com

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March 28

The Augusta Chronicle on Gov. Brian Kemp’s response to the coronavirus pandemic:

Against the coronavirus, citizens in a united America are facing identical crises.

Drilling down deeper, challenges can differ, or become more complex, or both.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp knows all too well. When The Augusta Chronicle Editorial Staff had the opportunity to speak with him on March 27, he was hunkered down like so many other Georgians, but his location was in a “war room” environment where he was fielding the steady flow of the most recent information regarding COVID-19.

At the time we spoke, 1,643 coronavirus cases had been reported in Georgia. Fifty-six people had died.

The health and safety of all Georgians, he said, is his top concern. From that starting point, he has been explaining why he has not yet issued a blanket, statewide “shelter in place” directive as a means to prevent the virus’ spread.

Other states have. But other states aren’t Georgia.

“The measures that I’ve implemented are dictated by what cards I’ve been dealt in the state of Georgia,” Kemp said.

The measures, which went into effect at noon on March 24, prohibit public events attracting more than 10 people - unless an acceptable 6-foot social-distancing radius for each person can be guaranteed.

Grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores can stay open. But the Georgia Department of Public Health has the authority to close any location exceeding the 10-person limit. That includes churches.

The strongest pieces of advice Kemp gives Georgians are to exercise caution: observe the expectations of the order, and leave home only for essential purposes such as food and medical care.

“I’ve targeted the problem areas we’ve got,” Kemp said. “When you look at Georgia, we have 10 counties that make up 60% of the cases that we have, and we have a couple of different hot spots in those counties.”

County and municipal leaders - and the latitude to make decisions that best suit their local areas - factor strongly into Kemp’s coronavirus plans. After all, Atlanta’s plans for COVID-19 will differ from Taliaferro County’s.

Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis announced March 21 an “executive order” to close bars, nightclubs, restaurants with just dine-in service, barbers, hairdressers, nail salons, spas, and entertainment venues that expect large crowds.

Two days later, Columbia County Board of Commissioners Chairman Doug Duncan announced that businesses could choose to remain open if they cleaved to the virus safety guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Neither plan is entirely dissimilar to the executive order Kemp issued.

The statewide “shelter in place” plan that some are proposing has certain merits. But supporters of that plan could learn from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He issued that statewide directive for New York, but at a press conference on March 26, a remorseful Cuomo admitted the statewide stay-at-home order was “probably not the best public health strategy.” A better approach, he said, would be a prudent balance of protecting public health and encouraging economic vitality.

That’s part of what Kemp’s strategy is aiming for.

“There is an economic situation here that has a societal effect, if you will,” the governor said. “If we start having businesses go out, many of them won’t come back. Their workers will be displaced. They’ll have a hard time. A lot of people in our state, even with these good economic times, are living week to week. They have a fear of not being able to buy groceries for their families, getting critical needs like medications and other things.”

A statewide stay-at-home order, he said, just doesn’t make sense for a lot of communities in Georgia feeling that pinch.

“That’s why I’ve taken the approach I have, and I’m fighting for all those hard-working Georgians out there to make sure they don’t lose everything,” Kemp said.

The virus has moved other state issues to the governor’s back burners.

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston asked Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger by letter on March 26 to consider delaying the state’s presidential primary a second time. Originally March 24, it’s now May 19.

For now, polls will still be open, but Raffensperger is ramping up the option of absentee ballots for people who might not want to venture out of their homes yet. Out of virus concerns and to keep the voting process more familiar to Georgians, Ralston would prefer the primary to move to at least June 23 if not later.

“As a former secretary of state, I want to see successful accessible and fair elections. I know that Secretary Raffensperger is weighing all those options, and I certainly understand where the Speaker Is. I’m sure they’ll hash that out,” Kemp said. “Right now I’m focused on keeping responding to this unprecedented time in our state. That is my No. 1 job as governor.”

Online: https://www.augustachronicle.com