NWA editorial: Thursday's thumbs

Clinical social workers can make a difference

Thumbs aren't always our friends. Just check in on the rosters of your favorite sports team and, often, some star athlete's digit is the reason he's gone onto the team's disabled list.

Our digits are currently working just fine, so we thought we'd put them to good use with another round of Thursday's thumbs.

Give’em a thumb

Want to give some brief feedback on news? Someone who deserves a pat on the back? An idea that needs a dose of common sense? Recommend a “Thursday thumb” by calling Greg Harton at (479) 872-5026 or by email at [email protected].

[THUMBS UP] Oh, how we wish it weren't necessary, but it is impressive that the Springdale School District has committed to the hiring of six licensed clinical social workers, with the hope the district can hire five times that number so students at ever school can benefit from the services they deliver. It's a little shocking the district hasn't had these professionals before. Public local school districts have to educate whoever crosses the threshold. These days, that means a significant number of kids who need help beyond reading, writing and arithmetic. Sure, some folks will bemoan the expenditure and blame it on lax parenting, the lack of corporal punishment or a prevalence of spoiled children. That's a fine societal debate, but school districts just have to deal with the reality. Not everyone lives the life of Beaver Cleaver. Sometimes families need critical services before a child can show up prepared to learn. Would it be better if schools didn't have to deal with such matters. Sure, but as things stand, that's a fantasy. Plus, if social workers are available, teachers and administrators can be freed up to focus on what's they are there for, education.

[THUMBS DOWN] File this under the "things we know but still cringe about " category. The National Partnership for Women and Families reports women in Arkansas typically earn 78 cents for every dollar paid to men. Maybe we're supposed to be thankful that our state has only the 21st worst pay gap in the nation, but the gap wherever it exists is an undesirable throwback to the sexist workplace treatment of the past. Decision-makers in public and private enterprises need to make pay equity a serious consideration as they hire, promote and operate.

[THUMBS UP] Northwest Arkansas Community College may be in Bentonville, but nobody should underestimate the impact of the former "college without walls" in Washington County. Out of 7,715 students enrolled last fall, 36 percent were from Washington County. That's why it's exciting news that the college plans to break ground in June on a new college center in Springdale near Arvest Ballpark and Arkansas Children's Northwest. A 35,000-square-foot facility on 20 acres will bring new educational opportunities closer to a population that obviously finds value in what the community college has to offer, and proximity will probably mean more can take advantage of those opportunities.

[THUMBS UP] We're so thankful most residents living in and near Mountainburg escaped without injury last week when a tornado shook things up. Yes, it's springtime in Arkansas, so tornadoes are always a possibility. Arkansans know just how damaging they can be and why there is every reason to give thanks, because Mountainburg's experience could have been much worse. We commend the neighbors and the emergency crews for their undaunted efforts to come to the aid of those in need and continue the long-term work of rebuilding what was lost.

Commentary on 04/19/2018

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