A rose to K-12 schools in the Golden Triangle, which begin classes this week. Unlike last year, all students will attend classes in person during the school week, a welcomed return to normal activities after a 2020-21 school year where many students attended classes virtually. Having students back in the classroom is an important element. Studies have shown that even high-performing students sometimes found learning difficult in a virtual setting. We urge all students, faculty and staff to rigidly observe the COVID-19 protocols in place that allow students to return to the traditional classroom. We are happy to see our students back in school. Let’s make sure they stay there by making safety the highest priority.
A rose to Rep. Dana McLean (R, Columbus) for emphatically standing her ground in the face of a campaign launched by COVID-19 vaccination conspiracy theorists demanding the firing of state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs. Legislators have been inundated with emails calling for Dobb’s firing. Most legislators chose to remain silent, others may have bowed to the pressure. McLean did neither, reaffirming her support of Dobbs in a response to online criticism by groups such as the Mississippi Patriots for Vaccine Freedom. McLean said the email campaign has made her all the more certain of her support for Dobbs and his handling of the pandemic. “I just got to the point where I’d had enough,” McLean said. At a time when many public officials have wavered in the face of criticism, McLean has remained firm in her convictions. We need more of that.
A rose to 14th Chancery Court Judge Paula Ellis and her colleagues for holding a free virtual community legal clinic on Friday. Participants were provided information on a wide variety of family law matters, including no-fault divorce, emancipation, uncontested general guardianships, simple wills, advance healthcare directives and power of attorney. For most people, the courts are difficult to understand and navigate and can be expensive, so the free information provided during the clinic gives people a better sense of how our judicial process operates. Those who may have missed Friday’s event can participate in other similar events, which are sponsored by The Mississippi Lawyers project. Visit www.mvlp.org/clinics or contact the Mississippi Lawyers Project at (601) 882-5001 for information on future clinics.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
