Loudoun News - Final 2008 Editorial Shots/Shorts

Reading through various Loudoun news this past week - I'm inclined to simply shake my head ruefully, think "what the...", and respond with these quick editorial shorts...and load up on hope for a better 2009.

1 - loads of chickens found as part of a cockfighting ring in Lovettesville are "saved", can't seem to find them new homes (because they're too aggressive), might need to be euthanized.

Editorial respone - um, can't we just eat them? Give them to the food bank?

2 - Miller flip-flops and joins Waters in Loudoun business and marketing reality for the new economy of 2009; asks Supervisors to reconsider arrangement with the Redskins.

Editorial response - um, welcome back to the County; let's not be so daft again, please? It's the economy, ...

3 - Loudoun teachers (WAPO) complain there's not enough time in the day to do planning, and many are "feeling overworked" - alternatives might include bringing in substitutes to cover for planning time, or paying for weekend work - and some are fearful that the extra work demands are interfering with "being a good parent".

Editorial response - um, well, welcome to the world of being glad to have a decent job with benefits, 24x7 professional services, where we ALL work around the clock at our jobs and careers to get ahead, provide great customer service, deliver superior products, and balance very challenging family/parenting demands. It's in the official job description of "being a working parent in Northern Virginia in tough economic times", page 6.

4 - Massive checkpoints on Rt. 50 east and west at the Fairfax/Loudoun county border this recent Friday night - probably 60-70 officers and "help" observed working the lanes at 11:30 PM.

Editorial response - well, probably a good thing, but maybe a little overkill? Especially in this difficult County budgeting season upcoming?

5 - The next Loudoun hospital - no comments needed - just put it where it needs to be, on Rt. 50.

6 - WAPO Extra Credit/Jay Mathews - "Advanced Math is a Challenge. What's Wrong With That?. In this recent article, Jay provides (finally) feedback from readers that's right on the money, including "The United States' performance in international competition in math and sciences at the secondary school level has been generally abysmal...".

Editorial response - amen to that, and as the SOL scores in Loudoun clearly show, at least in the Elementary schools we care about, it's rapidly getting worse.