Recent editorials from Alabama newspapers:
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Aug. 9
The Times Daily on responsibility falling on students as the school year begins amid the pandemic:
Students across Alabama are resuming their studies, and according to the best estimates, somewhere between 60% and two-thirds of them will be returning to classrooms they haven’t seen since March, when Gov. Kay Ivey ordered an end to face-to-face instruction for what eventually became the remainder of last school year.
Already there are hiccups. Several high school sports teams have had to suspend their summer practice sessions because either students or coaches tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.
At Oneonta High School, the entire football team and marching band are under quarantine following exposure to the new coronavirus. Oneonta has a population of about 6,600. It doesn’t take much imagination to think about what a coronavirus outbreak might mean to a larger school in a larger community. And that is why public health officials are worried.
“We are going to have cases in our schools and there is no question about that,” State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said last week. There will be students “who are going to be positive on the first day of school.”
That’s his prediction despite the statewide face covering order Ivey issued last month after COVID-19 cases in the state started to spike following the July 4 holiday. Since Ivey’s order went into effect, the state’s new coronavirus cases have begun to flatten, but all of that progress could be lost if schools don’t take the proper precautions and students don’t do their part, respecting the mask order, which does apply to schools in most cases, and other guidelines regarding hand washing and social distancing.
While it seems younger students are less likely to get and spread the coronavirus, they are not immune to it, and there have been deaths even among the very young. That they face less of a risk seems true, but they don’t face zero risk. Things get fuzzier, however, when one talks about older students, especially those of high school age. As we have seen, teens can get COVID-19 and spread it.
Teens can help by policing themselves. That doesn’t mean running to tell a teacher or administrator, necessarily. It just means politely reminding classmates to do things like wear masks, and wear them properly. Face coverings don’t do anyone any good if they’re not covering both the nose and mouth.
Leading by example and using persuasion should be the rule. Incidents like one last week in Nashville, where a 61-year-old man was jailed for violating that city’s health rules after he flouted a warning from police, are not something we want to see here. And we especially don’t want to see it with regard to students.
At the other extreme is Georgia, where the governor not only refuses to enact a mask rule, he has told local governments they can’t, either, resulting in a standoff between the governor and the mayors of some of the state’s larger cities such as Atlanta.
A student at North Paulding High School in Dallas, Georgia, created a stir by posting online a photo of the school’s hallway packed with unmasked students. The local superintendent’s response wasn’t to rethink his approach to school safety, but to suspend the student who blew the whistle. (The student’s suspension was quickly rescinded after more public outcry.)
The superintendent still maintains masks can’t be mandated, which seems odd coming from someone who enforces all sorts of sometimes niggling rules about clothing. From his own district’s handbook we have rules for the length of shorts (5 inches “from the top of kneecap as measured by a ruler or the width of a 3 x 5 index card”), just to cite one of the dress code’s bullet points.
But hopefully we won’t need such rules here, although we have them. Hopefully concerned students, like the one unfairly disciplined in Georgia, will be enough to persuade their classmates of the importance of taking the coronavirus seriously.
Online: https://www.timesdaily.com
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Aug. 6
The Cullman Times on civil discourse among local town council candidates:
In this age of extreme partisanship and political divides, it was refreshing to see candidates for the Baileyton Town Council taking the high road in their comments. … Let’s hope they, and other local candidates continue to take this path.
When asked to speak at the Baileyton town council meeting, most candidates did. And while they acknowledged differences, they all spoke of wanting to move the town forward and noted that progress has been made. It was a nice reminder that running for office does not necessarily mean running against an opponent. It’s okay to have a different vision for the future - and we look forward to hearing those visions - without tearing down someone else’s plan. In the end, it will be up to the voters to decide which plan and which candidates make the most sense to them.
It’s also important to remember that while running for office is an individual effort - one person seeking one seat - governing is a team sport. Once elected, candidates become the governing body and they must work together for the betterment of their communities.
This does not mean everybody on a council always has to agree; in fact, it’s not healthy for there to never be any debate about issues. It’s possible for well-intentioned people to agree on a goal, but differ on how to reach that goal. When those conversations occur, no matter how uncomfortable they may be, they need to take place in public. Transparent government is good government, and our local elected officials can set the example for other levels of government on how to handle disagreements without being disagreeable.
The same should be said for supporters of the various candidates. We applaud those willing to put themselves out there and take on the mantle of leadership. It can be an especially difficult thing to do, particularly in the age of social media and anonymous commentators. We hope people will remember that the candidates are our neighbors and once this election cycle is over, we’ll all continue to live in the same communities.
Over the next few weeks, candidates will have the opportunity to lay out their plans and make their case for why they should be elected. Residents will have the opportunity to ask questions of them and voters will have the final say on who takes office.
During this time, let’s all remember that we are neighbors and members of the same communities. Keep it civil, keep it clean and may the best candidate win.
Online: https://www.cullmantimes.com
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Aug. 5
The Times-News on CARES Act funding for Alabama communities without reliable internet connectivity:
Chambers County communities without reliable broadband internet are at a distinct disadvantage and suffer in many ways.
However, in the midst of a pandemic that does not show any signs of being over soon, having access to reliable high-speed internet is more essential that ever for jobs and now even school.
The changes brought about by COVID-19 make it crucial to extend affordable, reliable high-speed internet to the thousands who don’t have it.
And the quicker, the better, because the time when they really need it is now.
This month, Gov. Kay Ivey announced she allocated $100 million in CARES Act funding for a public-private partnership to increase access to internet for K-12 students attending school in the fall who may need internet service for distance learning.
The program, which is called Alabama Broadband Connectivity (ABC) for Students, will provide vouchers for families of students currently eligible for free and reduced-price school meals, or meeting other income criteria.
The funding from the CARES Act will be used to expand internet access by providing equipment and service for broadband, wireless hot spots, satellite, fixed wireless, DSL and cellular-on-wheels.
The type of internet service for an area will depend on the closest available infrastructure that is already in place.
This is a step in the right direction to making sure Alabamians have reliable, high-speed internet access.
This is clearly an emergency solution worth implementing because people need the access and assistance now.
Meanwhile. it is critical to keep working on permanent solutions to make broadband available to all. Chambers County will be stronger for the effort as will the entire state of Alabama.
Online: https://www.valleytimes-news.com
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