27 JUL 06: OPEN UP, ALREADY

For some parents in Columbus, the countdown today stands at seven. It's seven more weekdays before a new school year opens - and before some teenage babysitters lose a good bit of extra income.

But for some school districts south of Columbus, the summer break already is over. Stewart-Quitman and Chattahoochee County schools opened for a new term this week. The old teen love song "See You in September" sounds more ancient every day - because we've jumped over August and into July.

The evening news visited Stewart-Quitman High School Wednesday, and found quite a change from a few years ago. I recall when some parents protested the school year starting in July. Now they don't - so maybe they all found daytime jobs.

But administrators at Stewart-Quitman High admit some students don't show up for class until the second week, under this early schedule. I guess even in small towns such as Lumpkin and Georgetown, there's such a thing as "fashionably late."

Several Stewart-Quitman High School students admitted they don't mind starting a new school year in July. One actually claimed by starting early, he'll get out faster. I don't know who sold him on that logic -- because the district calendar has him in session through Memorial Day weekend.

The Stewart County schools have spread out the calendar so much that it might as well be on year-round classes. The term lasts almost ten months, instead of the old-style nine. Isn't it amazing what NASCAR racing has inspired in our society?

(The calendar includes a one-week fall break in October, at the time of the Biblical Feast of Tabernacles. That's good to see. But a TWO-WEEK spring break in late March and early April? How many of these students are taking trips to Aruba?)

Other Stewart-Quitman High School students said they were ready for class to start after only a few weeks of summer break. That may sound strange, but keep one thing in mind -- in Stewart and Quitman Counties, there's not much to do even when class is in session.

Administrators will tell you they start the school year earlier nowadays so the first semester ends before winter break. So someone should explain to me why the National Football League has gone in the opposite direction - with regular-season games last season on January 1.

But consider what students south of Columbus are missing, by starting a new school year in July. They're in class more than a week before the Georgia sales tax holiday begins next Thursday. Their parents either have to pay full-price for clothes and supplies -- or the students have to find a clever way to make last year's stuff look new for eight or nine days.

(And this early start occurs in a lower-income area of Georgia, where paying the extra sales tax could be a bit of a burden on families. Hopefully there are Family Dollar stores in these counties to make sure everything evens out -- even though that doesn't sound as impressive as Parisian.)

On top of that, the Chattahoochee Valley Regional Library System's summer reading program only ended a few days ago. How could youngsters go to the "Library Ball" in Marion County Wednesday, when they might be full from eating meatballs in the cafeteria for lunch?

I thought about asking a Big Blog Question about the earlier start of the school year -- but then I remembered we did this last year, and many voters disapproved of it [15 Aug 05]. Some maybe we'll ask it again at an appropriate time next year. Maybe on Independence Day....

LOOK OUT BELOW FOR MORE....

Power Frisbee holds an open tryout in Augusta this weekend, to see who will represent that city on opening night! And pre-season stops in Columbus and LaGrange are coming August 13. Find out where and learn all about our new game at the official Power Frisbee web site; then offer your comments about it at the P.F.G. blog.

Now other short subjects from a nearly-comfortable Wednesday:

+ AFLAC stock dropped to a 52-week low, one day after the company announced its quarterly net income was up 21 percent from a year ago. Who can explain this one? Did someone find out all the people buying insurance are in hospice care?

+ The Ledger-Enquirer reported former Russell County School Superintendent Rebecca Lee is becoming an assistant professor at Troy University. Once again, Russell County is a stepping stone to a nicer job - and I can't wait for Tony Rasmus to become manager of the Columbus Catfish next season.

+ A demolition crew at the old Swift Mills complex caused a natural gas leak, which closed traffic on Second Avenue for a time. But because it happened during mid-afternoon, men couldn't get there in time to fill their propane cans for grilling.

+ Instant Message to former N'Sync singer Lance Bass: No way. I mean, YOU - a homosexual?! I may never listen to the song "Bi Bi Bi" the same way again....

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