GwinnettForum | Number 21.94 | Dec. 3, 2021
THIS PAINTING is the work of Joanne Cofer of Snellville in 2006, of the Cape Neddick Lighthouse, also known as the “Nubble Light,” in York, Maine, as seen from the ocean side. A photograph of Nubble Point Lighthouse was the Mystery Photo in the last edition. For today’s Mystery Photo, and it is a difficult one, scroll down.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Addressing the question of why there is a teacher shortage
PERSPECTIVE: On writing good op-ed columns
SPOTLIGHT: Georgia Banking Company
FEEDBACK: We’re trying to fly before having a plane when it comes to EVs
UPCOMING: PCOM student doctors plan two wellness events
NOTABLE: Gaskins + LeCraw is new name of combined firm
RECOMMENDED OR NOT: Three Frozen Thanksgiving Dinners
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Foundation funds comes from Coke profits
MYSTERY PHOTO: Today’s Mystery Photo may prove to be most difficult
CALENDAR: GGC plans vaccination clinics on the COVID-19 Omicron variant
Addressing the question of why there is a teacher shortage
By Alexander Tillman
VALDOSTA, Ga. | For years the public has been warned of an impending teacher shortage. There has been a shortage in rural and intercity schools for years, but now the problem has spread to the suburbs. Schools in higher socio-economic districts are now feeling the pinch. I have enjoyed being an educator for nearly 30 years. So why is this happening?
Tillman
There are many theories as to why young people are not becoming teachers. The reasons vary from the pay scale to lack of respect for the profession to there being other professions that are more attractive. The question should be, what would make teaching more attractive to those entering the workforce?
Recognize that being a public school teacher in Georgia is a nice lifestyle. A teacher can earn a higher degree or two to increase their pay. The benefits are nice. We work 190 days per year, have health insurance with a cafeteria plan, and a pension. I can’t complain. So, why don’t more people want to teach school?
The typical government response is to throw money at the problem. Please do not misunderstand me. If the State Legislature wants to increase the pay scale, I will gladly accept their offer. Would increasing teachers’ pay alone end the teacher shortage? I don’t think it would.
Thirty years ago, when I finished earning my teaching certificate, finding a job in education was difficult. My first job was in an intercity school. The principal needed a history teacher who could coach soccer. There were not many people in South Georgia who knew anything about soccer in the early 1990s. I did, so I got the job. Needless to say, the profession has changed over the years.
The biggest change in education has been the expectation of schools. In 1993 each student was responsible for their success. Teachers taught the material, they tested their students, and those scoring 70 or above passed the course. If a student failed, they repeated the class.
Starting with the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 the responsibility for a student’s success was shifted from the student to the teacher. Teachers directly control two things. They control the curriculum and the instruction. Nothing else. Teachers have no control over student work effort and character. This is what frustrates educators.
Teachers and school administrators are blamed for the dropout rate. Yet we only control the curriculum and instruction, not the actions of unwilling learners. This frustration seems to me the root cause of the teacher shortage.
If the State of Georgia wants to attract more young people to education, start with expectations. Expect teachers to teach those students who want to learn.
Do not penalize teachers and administrators for students who do nothing. Students who refuse to pay attention and follow instructions do not learn. The general public, which includes the student’s parents, must be willing to accept a dropout rate if they want rigorous schools. Teachers hate it when students fail their classes, but there must be high standards.
We need to return to a realistic expectation of teachers. Teachers cannot teach those who are unwilling to learn. A realistic expectation of teachers will reduce the shortage of teachers.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
On writing good op-ed columns
These aren’t the kind of columns this commentary is discussing!
By Andy Brack
Publisher, Charleston City Paper
CHARLESTON, S.C. | A way to influence how thought leaders consider an issue of public importance is to inject yourself into debate by writing a crisp, clear opinion editorial, or “op-ed,” for leading state and national media.
Before getting started
- What is the clear point that I want to make?
- Why should the reader care about the issue or my point?
- What are some examples or research that illustrates the point?
- What do you want people to do, if anything, after reading the piece?
Top 10 tips for good op-eds
FORMAT: The length should be about 500 words. The op-ed should be double-spaced in a standard font. Include your contact information at the top.
ONE POINT: The theme should have one central point, buttressed by examples and discussion. You should be clear about your point.
VOICE: Generally use active voice for more powerful writing.
HOOK: Make sure the first paragraph is interesting and catches the reader with a hook. How? Find something current in the news, be creative yourself, and offer an op-ed.
NEWS, NOT OLDS: Move quickly when writing and offering the op-ed to the media about your subject. The early writer usually gets published.
CARE: Offer personal insights and examples as a way to show you care or how an issue impacts you. By outlining why you care, you illustrate why readers should care. An alternative: Tell a story.
WHAT’S NEXT: Readers are looking for your opinion on the subject, as well as specific recommendations of what they should do next. Offer creative and concise recommendations.
OTHER SIDE: Acknowledge the other side, if you must, but don’t repeat someone else’s message. Craft your own.
NO JARGON: The law offers too many opportunities for jargon. Avoid. Use common-sense language. Spell out common abbreviations; some may not know this abbreviation.
LINKS: At the end, offer a link to your bio and a high-resolution, good-quality photo.
Here are ways how op-eds are beneficial to the community:
Reasons for offering your opinion on issues:
- To bolster your academic and professional credentials;
- To polish your institution’s reputation (or yourself) in the community;
- To show leadership in your community;
- To educate readers; and
- To perform a social responsibility in a democratic society.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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With EVs, we’re trying to fly before having a plane
These days 2.6 percent of the vehicles on our roads are electric at the end of October. Auto dealerships have about 48 percent of their normal inventory of vehicles, because of the chip shortage in the world. If everyone went out today to buy an electric vehicle, they could not find enough recharging stations available for them. We seem to be wanting to achieve the unachievable. Meanwhile, we suffer from unaffordable energy costs long before the country has the products to convert to cleaner energy. The 24,000 electric cars in Georgia are powered basically by coal and wood.
It’s like going to war with weapons but no ammunition. It’s like deciding that the air is polluted and telling everyone to hold their breath until we can clean it up. Remember the “Soup Nazi” on Seinfeld? It’s like our government is telling us, ” You, no soup!” ‘No energy for you, you polluter!”
When I lived in Richmond, I could drive to Pittsburgh or New York on a tank of gas with no problem, even with the heavy holiday traffic. The Tesla S costing $100,000 has a 370 mile range. That should make the Richmond to New York trip, but don’t run a bunch of onboard technology that drains power. You’ll be calling it close. We’re just trying to fly before we have a plane, at a price we can afford, in numbers that we need now.
The dreamers who sold the electorate on electric vehicles just aren’t close on this. That wand just isn’t going to deliver on the promise that they have made.
— Byron Gilbert, Duluth
Dear Byron: You seem to be saying that President Biden’s plan to put in more electrical charging stations is the right direction to go, though we need them quicker if EVs are our immediate future.—eeb
Some school boards only want to serve their own agendas
Alan Schneiberg’s comments are off base. It seems he believes there is no place for parental involvement in the managing of our public schools. How absurd and dangerous is that? Trust is earned through actions and accomplishments, and never should just be assumed. We don’t have to look very deep to find school boards who are only interested in serving their own agenda no matter how politically skewed they may be.
— Jim Savedelis, Duluth
Send us your thoughts: We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum. Please limit comments to 300 words, and include your hometown. The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: elliott@brack.net.
PCOM student doctors plan two wellness events
Alexander Christianson (DO ’24) checks the blood pressure of Sahara Peters (DO ’24) in preparation for the students’ participation in the Jolly Holly Day.
Gwinnett County residents will be the recipients of two wellness events planned by PCOM Georgia Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in early December.
On Friday, December 3, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., PCOM Georgia DO students, along with faculty members, will take blood pressure readings and distribute blood pressure information at the Jolly Holly Day in Suwanee Town Center, located in downtown Suwanee.
In addition, the PCOM Georgia Mobile Medical Education Lab, will be available for tours, while students will provide arts and crafts activities for children. The DO students’ activities and giveaways are sponsored by the President’s Community Wellness Initiative.
Sahara Peters (DO ’24), a second year DO student, is coordinating the event. She said, “We hope to become a trusted resource in the Suwanee community.” According to Alexander Christianson (DO ’24), “As medical students in Gwinnett County, I believe it is our duty to serve those around us by teaching our community members simple practices that they can implement in their daily lives like blood pressure checks.”
On Saturday, December 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., PCOM Georgia HEARTS Club members are working with Walgreens and the Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry to administer free flu shots to the uninsured. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. Visit www.pcomheartsga.org to sign up.
The cooperative ministry is located at 52 Gwinnett Drive, Suite C, in Lawrenceville, Georgia. HEARTS Club members raised funds for the event through fundraisers and club dues.
Gaskins + LeCraw is new name of combined firm
Gaskins Surveying of Marietta and LeCraw Engineering of Duluth announce their merger to create Gaskins + LeCraw. This integration will offering a more comprehensive set of surveying, planning, and engineering capabilities across a wider geographic area in support of growth throughout the Southeast.
Officers will be Brandon Hutchins as chief executive officer of Gaskins + LeCraw, with Mark LeCraw assuming overall leadership of the engineering organization as vice president of engineering. Chris Evans will be vice president of surveying. Jeff Wilkerson will be director of engineering for the eastern region, and David Stuart will be director of engineering for the western region.
The new organization now boasts 150 employees in the areas of civil engineering, planning consulting, surveying, and entitlements in five offices throughout Georgia.
Berkeley Lake’s Massaroni is new Good Sam chairman
Massaroni
New board chair of Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett (Good Sam) is Kenneth Massaroni of Berkeley Lake, who will begin this new appointment in January 2022. He replaces Linda Watson-Hills of Duluth, who served on the board for seven years.
Massaroni has served on the board for four years. He is also involved with the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia and Hi-Hope Service Center. Good Samaritan is a charitable nonprofit serving the working poor and uninsured by providing quality, affordable dental, medical and pharmaceutical services, with two offices in Norcross.
EMC awards $27,578 to schools for Bright Ideas Grants
Jackson Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) awarded 10 middle schools in Gwinnett County $27,578 in Bright Ideas grants to fund 18 innovative classroom projects.
Berkmar Middle:
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- Monica Shaffer – $1,468 grant to fund a Bio Science Learning Garden.
Coleman Middle School:
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- Kelli Sinclair – $1,963 grant to fund an Aquaponics System.
Dacula Middle School:
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- Susan Rumble – $1,346 grant to fund Mystery Minerals..
Hull Middle:
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- Cindy Mollard – $816 grant to fund Bravo for Braille.
- Kanisha Sherman – $1,978 grant to fund Adobe Spark for Business.
Jones Middle:
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- Ashley Saye – $512 grant to fund iDrum for Special Needs Students.
- Rick Milleman – $998 grant to fund Robot Design for Artificial Intelligence.
- Jordan Middle:
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- Stacey Edison-Bryson – $1,600 grant to fund Food for All Tower Garden.
Northbrook Middle:
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- Zachary Davison – $2,000 grant to fund Eco Warriors.
Radloff Middle:
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- Celia Ayenesazan – $2,000 grant to fund Multiliteracies Through Graphics.
- Carla Chelko – $1,335 grant to fund Lego Robotics: Transportation for a Sustainable Future.
- Haley Gordon – $1,620 grant to fund Engineering Skills for Sustainable Development.
- Michelle Morgan – $2,000 grant to fund Picture Perfect for NASA Science.
- Tamika Sirmons – $750 grant to fund Literature to Life Stage Play.
Sweetwater Middle:
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- Kobie Flocker – $1,325 grant to fund Georgia Studies.
Twin Rivers Middle:
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- Andrew Cox – $1,917 grant to fund Dynamics Cart and Track System.
- Anna Herdliska – $1,955 grant to fund Spectroscopy: Quantifying Color of Light in Biological Specimens.
In 2021, Jackson EMC awarded a total of $61,161 in Bright Ideas grants to 39 teachers in 22 middle schools across its service area.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Three frozen Thanksgiving dinners
From Liz Fehrs, Hillsborough, N.C.: Our Thanksgiving tradition is to try different frozen dinners. We tried three this year. Here’s the Ugly, the Bad and the Good:
Marie Callender’s Turkey and Stuffing Thanksgiving Pie was a new item to us. It was awful. The potatoes tasted like they were made with bleached water. The pie was not appealing nor tasty. Even our dog rejected the leftovers.
Stouffer’s Roast Turkey (with gravy, stuffing and mashed potatoes): Potatoes tasted like instant; the stuffing was OK, the turkey was ‘real’ and not a pressed product. Overall, OK.
Lean Cuisine Roasted Turkey Breast (with herb dressing and cinnamon apples): this item was best. Portions were good; real turkey; stuffing flavorful. The cinnamon apples were a surprise and they were tasty, but a bit too sweet.
Grudgingly, Lean Cuisine won. Should be interesting to see what next year gives us for selections, because 2021 was truly really lean.
An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. Send to: elliott@brack.net
L.P. Evans Foundation funds comes from Coke profits
A native of southwest Virginia, Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans was one of the first women to serve on the board of directors of a major American corporation, the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company. One of the country’s most generous philanthropists, she also set up charitable foundations to share her family’s vast fortune with others.
Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans
Letitia “Lettie” Pate was born into a prominent family, to Elizabeth Stagg and Cornelius Pate, on February 21, 1872, in the Bedford County village of Thaxton, in the far reaches of the Virginia Piedmont. Her father was an enterprising merchant, and she grew up in a community of large extended family. Raised in the Episcopal Church and privately educated, she exhibited early in life an inquiring mind, an acute interest in business, and an empathy for elderly female members of her family struggling financially in hard times.
In 1894 she married an adventurous young attorney, Joseph Brown Whitehead, of Oxford, Mississippi. The couple settled in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where Joseph Whitehead had a law practice. There they had two sons, Joseph Brown Whitehead Jr. and Conkey Pate Whitehead.
In 1891 Asa Candler bought the secret syrup recipe for Coca-Cola from Atlanta druggist John Stith Pemberton and soon thereafter issued shares of stock, established the Coca-Cola trademark, and initiated a massive promotion of the popular soda fountain drink. On July 21, 1899, Joseph Whitehead and his colleague Benjamin F. Thomas signed a contract with the Coca-Cola Company for exclusive rights to bottle the drink for most of the United States. Their new enterprise was called the Coca-Cola Bottling Company. In 1900 Whitehead went to Atlanta to open a second bottling plant. Later that year, Whitehead and Thomas decided to go their separate ways and divided their bottling territories geographically, with Whitehead taking the South (minus the Chattanooga area) and much of the West.
Whitehead promoted the idea of bottling the drink for sales across the country, and he traveled extensively to set up bottlers and transportation throughout his extensive regions. In 1906, at the age of forty-one, he died of pneumonia, leaving behind his young widow and their eleven- and eight-year-old sons. Thus at age thirty-four Lettie Pate Whitehead, already well entrenched in Atlanta as a community leader, took over her husband’s share of the massive bottling business, as well as his real estate interests. She established the Whitehead Holding Company and the Whitehead Realty Company to manage her assets and those of her two sons, and their wealth expanded exponentially under her able leadership.
Lettie Pate Whitehead remarried in 1913. Her second husband was Colonel Arthur Kelly Evans, a retired Canadian Army officer. During their 35-year marriage they made their home in Hot Springs, Virginia, at a large estate called Malvern Hill, and for many years they maintained a home in Atlanta as well.
(To be continued)
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Today’s Mystery Photo may prove to be most difficult
Today’s Mystery Photo we’ll label as difficult, for this photo is not on the Internet as such, and there are few, if any, distinguishing marks. So, it may be a hard puzzle to solve. If you think you have solved it, send your answers to elliott@brack.net, and be sure to list your hometown.
The last Mystery Photo was relatively easy, as several people recognized it. The photograph came from Lawrence Woodard of Lawrenceville. George Graf of Palmyra, Va. wrote: “Cape Neddick Light is a lighthouse in Cape Neddick, York, Maine. It stands on Nubble Island about 100 yards off Cape Neddick Point. It is commonly known as ‘Nubble Light’ or simply “the Nubble.” Cape Neddick Point is at the north end of Long Sands Beach in the village of York Beach. The lighthouse is inaccessible to the general public, but the nearby mainland is occupied by Sohier Park which offers a telescope with which to view the lighthouse and a gift shop with a ‘Nubble” theme.’”
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. contributed: “I expect there will be plenty of readers who correctly identify today’s mystery photo. It is the Nubble Light which sits on a rocky little ‘nub’ of an island (hence the name), 100-yards off the coast of York Beach, Maine. It draws an estimated 500,000 visitors annually. Incidentally, my wife and I visited this area in 2014, and I took the attached panoramic view of Nubble Light that captures the entire island that the lighthouse sits upon.”
Others recognizing the photo included Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill; Channing Haskell, Peachtree Corners; Lynn Jacques, Snellville; Lou Camerio, Lilburn; Virginia Klaer, Duluth; and Jim Cofer, Snellville, who told us: “We visited this area in 2006, and my wife, Joanne, painted this view of the lighthouse.”
The presentation of annual awards and commemoration of the Bicentennial of Lawrenceville will highlight the meeting of the Gwinnett Historical Society on Monday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m. Speaker will be Chuck Warbington speaking on The Importance of knowing and understanding the history in your community as growth takes place. The meeting will be at the Historic Courthouse, 185 West Crogan Street in Lawrenceville.
Konzen
Speaking at the Gwinnett Rotary Club on Tuesday, December 7, will be the Most Rev. Joel Konzen, an Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Atlanta, former faculty member and principal of Marist School of Atlanta. The club meets at the 1818 Club at 12:15.
Job Fair on Wednesday, December 8 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. for jobs with the Gwinnett County Planning and Development. The department wants to fill several positions including code enforcement, inspections and planning. The location will be held in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Conference Center on the second floor, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.
Vaccination Clinics on the COVID-19 Omicron variant will be held at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville on Dec. December 7, 8, 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.The clinics, open to all – students, faculty, staff and community members, will be held at the third-floor lounge in the college’s Student Center (Building E).
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