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4A ♦
State's Education Grade Far From an 'F'
*
fpi-'
Georgia’s public schools can’t
get no respect. However, a
nationwide report on school
quality just released by
“Education Week" places
Georgia in surprisingly good
standing compared to other
states. “Quality Counts” is,
according to Atlanta Journal
Constitution columnist Maureen
Downey, “considered a fair and
comprehensive assessment
of state efforts in education.”
Georgia’s overall grade in
"Quality Counts 2012" was a
79.7 or B-, 7 ,h in the nation.
Maryland finished first overall
with an 87.8, followed by
Massachusetts, New York,
Virginia, Arkansas and New
Jersey. We finished above
ncighboring/competing states
Florida (II" 1 ), Tennessee (21"),
South Carolina (24 A ), and
Alabama (32 nd ).
I’m not an education
researcher, but if lots of people
in-the-know call this report
“fair and comprehensive,” that’s
good enough for me. What I
do see is that “Quality Counts”
evaluates states using many
different measures, rather than
single factors such as once-a
year test scores.
Let’s not throw a party for this
betler-than-expected outcome,
fhc report simply gives a clearer
picture of w here Georgia stands
and where we still need to go
with public education. When
Peach Publishing
Bob Tribble Mitch Tribble
President Vice President
Frances Tribble
Secretary
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Publisher
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Advertising
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• Billy Powell............ .................Columnist
• Claire Houser Dodd ...............Columnist
• Tara Mercer............ Circulation Manager
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JANUARY 18, 2012
we break down the overall
to its six components and
sub-components, Georgia is
over the place, from 37* to 6 m
I won’t go into every
due to lack of space; instead. I’ll
cover a few points that stand
in my mind.
Let’s look at “Standards,
Assessmentand
(18*, but an A- at 91.1) which
covers what we teach, how
we teach it, and how well we
evaluate how/what we teach
and the people who teach it.
On “Standards" alone, Georgia
received a perfect 100 or A.
This means the experts who
worked on “Quality Counts"
believe the statewide curriculum
is as good as it can possibly get.
There are two other components
to this category: “Assessments”
for which the state received
only a B or 83.5, and “School
Accountability,” for which we
received an A- or 90.0. Note
also that in this category, a lot
of states scored very high, with
even perpetual underachiever
Mississippi outscoring Georgia
with a 92.8, and the national
average at 85.3 (it’s in the 70’s
for other categories). This tells
us that most states are pretty
good at policy making - we
all have a handle on what we
should be teaching, but run into
trouble with actually teaching it.
The proof of this point is in
Georgia’s “K-12 Achievement"
score, in which we fall to 22 nd
(C-70.5), with the “Status” sub
component a dismal F (58.1).
To put it bluntly: we ain’t doing
too hot with actually teaching
that perfect curriculum. This
isn’t really a surprise; a bunch
of smart people who did well
in school should be able to
do a good job deciding what
everyone needs to learn in order
to become more smart people,
but how to teach that good
stuff - well, there’s room for
Opinions cxprtned by writers on this pope an their own and not necessarily those of The l-eader-Tribune
improvement,
The top '‘Quality Counts*’
state in K-12 is Massachusetts,
with a relatively modest 85.9.
That state was 2 nd overall
and ranked 8 ,h in “School
Finance, Massachusetts
outscored Georgia by about
24 points on spending (but
scored 10 points lower on
“College Readiness,” odd for a
state with so many prominent
colleges). Massachusetts is a
predominantly “blue” state
that conservatives love to bash
for its high taxes; they’re not
entirely wrong on that issue.
but it does appear, at least
with public education, that the
citizens of the Commonwealth
arc getting something for their
higher tax dollars. To be fair
and comprehensive, I will also
point out that higher spending
alone doesn't automatically lead
to better outcomes. Let’s flip the
question: Does anybody argue
that spending less on education
is a good thing? I don’t see any
hands.
This is no call to be more
like Massachusetts (especially
if that means rooting for the
Red Sox). I am simply offering
information that can help all of
us, policy wonks and lay people
alike, get a clearer picture of
what’s working and what’s not
with the state's public education
system. According to "Quality
Counts 2012,” it’s not as bad as
many people think, but could
be a lot better. Let’s roll up our
sleeves and keep rising in the
rankings,
To sec summaries of “Quality
Counts 2012,” go to www.
edweek.org/.
Playing Football Can Cause Injuries
; jp
>.- ■
BOB TRIBBLE
Irtbtslte « ttln’ftrtijit
Almost two dozen former
National Football League
players are suing the NFL over
what they say are permanent
brain damage caused by con¬
cussions suffered when playing.
Complaints have been filed in
Miami and in Atlanta thus far
by the former NFL players.
The lawsuit filed in Miami
accuses the NFL of omitting or
concealing evidence that link
concussions to long term neu¬
rological problems. The NFL
denies the charges and says
player safety has long been a
top priority.
The players claim that the
NFL misrepresented the seri¬
ousness of their injuries with
the intent of encouraging the
When Should You Start Taking Social Security?
—
If you’re of a certain age.
the new year means you’re that
much closer to a day you may
have anticipated with a combi¬
nation of humor and resignation
— specifically, the day you’re
eligible for Social Security. But
just because you can take Social
Security, it doesn’t mean you
must take it. So. should you?
Before we get to that ques¬
tion. let's review the basic rules
governing Social Security pay¬
ments. You can typically start
collecting benefits at age 62,
but you’ll get only about 75% of
what you’d receive if you waited
until your “full" retirement age,
which varies according to your
My Qoals for The Year Ahead
JUDY R08tNS0t I
WlMWHir
n 4 < H It HI l\nr\s, t t *\U'A \ »
Here we go with a brand new
year! I haven’t heard many
people talk much about New
Year’s resolutions: maybe it is
because too often we just have
a hard time sticking to them.
But I believe we must set New
Year goals if we want to move
forw ard with a high rate of suc¬
cess. Studies have shown that
people who set goals are more
likely to be successful and
people that set goals and write
them down are even more like¬
ly to accomplish their goals. I
like to make my goals as attain¬
able as possible but with some
challenge. When I set goals, it
is a must that I believe I can
do them. Sometimes it seems
like they are way beyond me,
but I know with God all things
are possible. And I think little
goals matter too, things like
improving manners towards
others. The following is a list
of and 1
Subscribe Tod a if! Call S2 4-2422 for d'Ha tbs,
Discount Driers for Senior (1 Turns..
Call for special rales..
_ _
players to return to the playing
field as soon as possible after
having suffered a football
related concussion.
The lawsuit claims the
NFL created a committee of
researchers and doctors in 1994
to study concussions. The suit
goes on to say that the group
did not include a doctor that
specialized in neurology or
other brain research. When the
committee published its find¬
ings 2003 it stated that there
was no long term negative
health consequences associated
with concussions, according to
the complaint.
The former players in the suit
filed in Atlanta claim their inju¬
ries left them struggling with
medical problems years after
their playing days ended. The
players claim the NFL knew as
early as the I920’s of the poten¬
tial harm to its players but only
went public last year.
The NFL responded that it
has long made player safety
a priority and will continue
to do so. “Any allegation that
the NFL intentionally sought to
mislead players has no merit.”
“It stands in contrast to the
birth year but is most likely 66.
You’ll get even bigger monthly
checks if you delay collecting
them until you’re past 66. and
you’ll “max out” on your pay¬
ments once you reach 70,
So, the question boils down to
this: Should you start collecting
Social Security early — there¬
by receiving smaller, but more
numerous, checks or later.
when your checks will be bigger
but fewer?
If you really need the money
once you reach 62. you’ve
already got your answer. But if
you could potentially afford to
wait, we recommend you view
your decision through a LENS:
• L: Your projected lifes¬
pan — You can’t see into the
future, but given your family
history and general health, you
can make an educated guess
about your projected longevity.
If you're fairly confident that,
once you reach 66. you’ve still
got another two or more decades
in front of you. you may want to
consider delaying taking Social
Security past age 62.
• E: Your employment status
— If you’re under full retire¬
ment age — between 62 and
66 — then for every two dol-
encourage our dear readers to
write out your goals and remem¬
ber, no goal is to small or big if
you only believe.
My first goal is to become a
better person. In the midst of my
life, goals and my own busyness,
I would like to be more mindful
of others. 1 want to remember
birthdays of those I hold dear.
So if I don't have your birthday,
send it to me. I have started a
calendar. Everybody feels spe¬
cial on his or her birthday or
they should. And 1 want to make
all my family and friends feel
special on their day.
2nd, 1 would like to listen
more with my heart and know
when someone needs a hug or
kind word. Many times in life
people are hurting and we as
Christians just keep on walking
by. I know I don’t do this on
purpose, but oftentimes 1 think
I do. And I want to change that
about myself.
3rd, Cook more Sunday din¬
ner - oh boy! This is a biggy
for me. as I am not a good cook
by any stretch of the imagina¬
tion. but 1 can be. If not. I hope
my husband, children and other
family members will at least
pretend to enjoy the food. It’s
the thought that counts, right?
The Robinson family gathers
almost every Sunday and I think
this is very special, as families
are distant these days; staying
connected is an awesome thing.
Staying connected in the good
league's actions to better protect
players and advance the science
and medical understanding
of the management and treat¬
ment of concussions,” an NFL.
spokesman said.
The NFI.’s leading rusher
Maurice Jones Drew says he
would try and hide a concus¬
sion. “No one’s going to want
a guy who can't stay healthy.
This is what I signed up for.
Injuries are part of the game. If
you don’t want to get them you
shouldn’t be playing"
In a series of interviews w ith
NFL players slightly more than
half said they would try to
conceal a possible concussion
rather than pull themselves out
of the game with some saying
they had already done that.
A defensive lineman says that
players know of the potential
problem but most would risk
further damage. "It doesn't take
a rocket scientist to figure out
if you have a concussion you’re
probably damaging your brain a
little bit. Just like if you sprain
your wrist you are going to
have wrist problems down the
road. I would still play through
it because it is part of the game.
lars you earn over $14,640
2012), you’ll lose one
in Social Security benefits.
the months before you
your full retirement age,
every three dollars you
over $38,880 (again, for
you'll lose one dollar in
efits. But starting in the
you reach your full
age, you can earn as much
you want without losing
benefits.
• N: Your need,
your other sources of retire¬
ment income — If you have
pension, or you’ve built sub¬
stantial resources in your
your 401(k) or other employer
sponsored retirement plan, and
you can support your income
needs with modest withdrawals
from these accounts, you might
decide it’s worthwhile to delay
taking Social Security to maxi¬
mize your benefits. Remember
that regardless of your Social
Security decision, you typical¬
ly would have to pay a 10%
early withdrawal penalty if you
started taking withdrawals from
these accounts before you reach
age 59V4.
• S: Your spouse/marital sta¬
tus — !f you’re single, you basi-
THE LEADER TRIBUNE
times is what carries us through
the tough times together.
4th, Spend more time with my
precious husband, son, daugh¬
ter and grandson. I have the
sweetest children and I love
them dearly. 1 miss them being
at home with me. As they
gel older I miss them more.
Hopefully. Sunday dinners will
do the trick. 1 have never been
one to just sit and talk about
nothing, but I want to learn the
art of just sitting around shinn¬
ing the breeze with my family.
I plan to enjoy visits to Jekyll
Island this year and take the
whole family (can t wait for it
to get warn enough).
5th. I wanna be a world cham¬
pion barrel racer! Me and Fancy
came close last year we rode
in and placed 5th in the NBHA
World show held right here in
good ole' Perry Ga. I believe we
can do it I would like for this to
be golden year for us. If not is
won’t be for lack of effort.
6th, As always, we want to
be the best newspaper that we
can be, but we can only do this
with the help of our community.
Please feel welcome to come
by anytime and make sugges¬
tions and give us ideas and feed
back. We have lots of new and
exciting ideas for The Leader
Tribune in 2012.
Get out those pens and write
down your goals and let us all
be successful in 2012.
and 99 percent of the guys
in the NFL are going to play
through it."
There is no doubt that play ing
in the NFL. is safer now than
it was ten years ago. More
fines for illegal hits, changes
in kickoff rules and the reduc¬
tion in the amount of contact
allowed at practice have helped
the situation.
Professional football players
are not the only ones that face
possible injury when playing
the game of football. It is a
tough sport beginning in little
league football, on the high
school and then the college
level as well. If you do not
wish to get hit and face possible
injury then you don’t need to
pul on a football uniform.
We have just finished a
season of bowl games and all
one has to do is to watch the
sport being played on television
to see how tough the game can
be. Frankly, the last ones that
should be filing law suits due
to any injuries they received
are professional players who
are paid millions for playing
the sport.
cally just need to think of your¬
self when making this decision.
But it’s a different story if you're
married If you die first, your
spouse can keep receiving his or
her own Social Security benefit
or receive yours — whichever
is larger. Consequently, you and
your spouse will want to coor¬
dinate when you take Social
Security benefits so that you
can maximize the benefit for the
spouse likeliest to live longer.
The choice of when to start
taking Social Security can affect
your lifestyle throughout your
retirement years so weigh all
the factors and make the choice
that’s right for you.
This article was written by
Edward Jones for use by your
local Edward Jones Financial
Advisor. Jeff Holland. For ques¬
tions, please refer to the Cali
A-Pro section for my contact
information Thank you!
Jeff Holland
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
4535 Forsyth Road Suite 2
Macon. GA 31210
(478) 757-0210
www .ed w ardjoncs com