THE Women's Rights Division of the American Civil Liberties Union sent letters to school officials in Cabell, Kanawha and Wood counties demanding an end to the single-sex classes that existed at a few middle schools.
But what about boys? African-American males now have a 53 percent dropout rate, according to Jawanza Kunjufu, author of "Reducing the Black Male Dropout Rate."
Among his recommendations?
The consideration of single-sex classrooms. Some people think separating boys and girls can produce environments more conducive to learning.
But in two counties at least, the experiment is over - and not necessarily because of the ACLU.
Kanawha County discontinued single-sex classes at Anne Bailey Elementary because of staffing requirements. Cabell County ended single-sex classrooms at Barboursville and Enslow middle schools because of what the superintendent called scheduling conflicts and logistical problems.
Too bad. What's happening to male academic achievement does need to be addressed. There now are three girls in college for every two boys.
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RESTRICTIONS on texting or using a cellphone while driving will take effect on July 1 under a new state law. This is to protect drivers from those drivers who are pre-occupied.
Nitro and St. Albans both have moved to adopt the West Virginia law as city ordinances as well.
Sure, city enforcement of a measure designed to reduce the risk of distracted driving could prevent some injuries or save some lives.
But there another advantage to dovetailing with state law as well: It presents a revenue opportunity.
With city ordinances, municipal law enforcement can take the alleged offenders to municipal court, and the city, not the state, can collect the proceeds.
Municipal residents, take note. Everybody and his brother is out to keep you safe.
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THE Women's Rights Division of the American Civil Liberties Union sent letters to school officials in Cabell, Kanawha and Wood counties demanding an end to the single-sex classes that existed at a few middle schools.
But what about boys? African-American males now have a 53 percent dropout rate, according to Jawanza Kunjufu, author of "Reducing the Black Male Dropout Rate."
Among his recommendations?
The consideration of single-sex classrooms. Some people think separating boys and girls can produce environments more conducive to learning.
But in two counties at least, the experiment is over - and not necessarily because of the ACLU.
Kanawha County discontinued single-sex classes at Anne Bailey Elementary because of staffing requirements. Cabell County ended single-sex classrooms at Barboursville and Enslow middle schools because of what the superintendent called scheduling conflicts and logistical problems.
Too bad. What's happening to male academic achievement does need to be addressed. There now are three girls in college for every two boys.
***
RESTRICTIONS on texting or using a cellphone while driving will take effect on July 1 under a new state law. This is to protect drivers from those drivers who are pre-occupied.
Nitro and St. Albans both have moved to adopt the West Virginia law as city ordinances as well.
Sure, city enforcement of a measure designed to reduce the risk of distracted driving could prevent some injuries or save some lives.
But there another advantage to dovetailing with state law as well: It presents a revenue opportunity.
With city ordinances, municipal law enforcement can take the alleged offenders to municipal court, and the city, not the state, can collect the proceeds.
Municipal residents, take note. Everybody and his brother is out to keep you safe.
***
TIGER Woods will play. The announcement that the No. 1 attraction in golf will take part in the Greenbrier Classic next month is one more feather in the cap of Jim Justice, owner of The Greenbrier.
Justice timed the announcement perfectly, breaking the news before Woods won the Memorial tournament in Dublin, Ohio, with a memorable miracle shot on the 16th hole in the final round.
The win tied Woods with Jack Nicklaus for most PGA wins.
Woods is back. So is The Greenbrier.
The comebacks took a lot of work by both. Here's to many great years together in the future.
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STATE officials quietly announced this week a tax cut - a drop in the regulatory surcharge employers pay on workers compensation premiums. The move will save employers $2.7 million a year.
The tax funds the transition from a state-run workers comp program to privately run programs.
Under privatization, overall premiums have been cut in half, saving employers $170 million that they could use to buy equipment or hire people.
History has proved critics of privatization wrong. That is something to bear in mind in the fight to ease other barriers to investing in the state, such as the property tax on equipment and the corporate net income tax.
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CHARLESTON City Council decided this week to redirect $740,000 in federal funds earmarked for developing an old CSX trestle into a walking-biking route and spend the money on sidewalk improvements instead.
The money will be spent to rehabilitate sidewalks on the West Side.
Council members choked on the estimated $20 million price tag of the trestle idea.
Converting the old railroad bridge is a nice idea, but there are plenty of nice ideas. The public cannot and should not be asked to finance them all.
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