Still big news here

It's no longer fresh news in Arkansas. Yet I see it as a big deal that six public high schools in Northwest Arkansas were listed among the state's top 10 in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.

What was left unspoken in this week's news story was the indispensable role teachers in Northwest Arkansas play in securing such impressive results.

Haas Hall Academy in Fayetteville, headed by Dr. Martin W. Schoppmeyer Jr., was rated the best high school in Arkansas for the fourth year in a row. Think about that and what's required from the faculty and staff to sustain such a remarkably high level of excellence. The school was ranked as the 51st best charter school in America and 175th best among all of America's high schools.

That academy in a relatively obscure building along College Avenue was followed in the state rankings by Bentonville High School and Rogers High School. Heritage High School in Rogers, Arkansas Arts Academy (also in Rogers) and Prairie Grove High also made the top 10 list.

This confirms what I've always maintained. It's not impressive bricks, mortar and glass that make a school effective, but rather the quality and caring of those who are devoted to educating behind its walls. I've known many restaurants across the country over my career. And all too often, those that looked the spiffiest offered poor service with expensive and mediocre food.

Seems that principle of form over substance often applies to many things we humans undertake, including education.

Memorial Sunday

If you have nothing else planned for May 24 and would enjoy a rewarding and unforgettable afternoon in an idyllic setting for Memorial Day weekend, you might consider joining me and the Ozark River Stewards along the scenic Buffalo National River.

They've planned a tribute gathering and two-mile float in honor of late 3rd District Rep. John Paul Hammerschmidt of Harrison.

Hammerschmidt was instrumental in constructing and shepherding legislation through the U.S. House that in 1972 created the country's first national river. In 2012, the state's Department of Environmental Quality (cough) misguidedly permitted a large, Cargill Inc.-sponsored hog factory into the Buffalo watershed just six miles from the treasured stream that draws tens of thousands of tourists each year.

Since then, studies by the National Park Service (whom the state also failed to notify this mega-waste-producing factory was being permitted) and others have been monitoring water quality along Big Creek, a major tributary of the Buffalo, which flows alongside the waste spray fields that serves C&H Hog Farms, housing up to 6,500 swine.

The stewards, who are sponsoring this tribute at the Ozark campground along Arkansas Scenic 7 south near Jasper, are as committed as many Arkansas groups and people across the state and nation to doing everything necessary to keep what many consider the state's most valuable natural treasure in "God's Country" free from contamination from hog waste.

"The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Board recently voted unanimously to extend the temporary moratorium on allowing any additional large and medium hog [factories] in the Buffalo River watershed," the group wrote in announcing the tribute.

"While that is good news, what is really needed is a permanent ban on unsustainable industrial operations that are passing themselves off as 'family farms' all over our country."

The organization also cited records it says show C&H has spread over 2.5 million gallons of raw hog waste onto a little over 400 acres of pasture in the past year, including periods when when it was too cold for grass to grow. The state's permit also allows the factory to leak up to 5,000 gallons daily from its two waste lagoons. Unbelievable, isn't it?

Fewer following religion

It's difficult for me to imagine that 56 million Americans no longer affiliate with a particular religion. Yet that's the findings of a Pew Research Center report that also says (after interviewing some 35,000 people) these "nones" have become the second-largest group behind evangelical Christians.

An Associated Press account the other day said that while Christianity remains the nation's primary faith, with seven of 10 Americans identifying with that religion, those numbers overall have been dwindling as those who say they have no religion have been swelling.

Researchers at Pew said between its major surveys of religious life in America in 2007 and 2014, the number of those calling themselves agnostics, atheists or of no particular faith grew from 16 to some 23 percent. Meanwhile, the number calling themselves Christians steadily shrunk from 78 percent to less than 71 percent. And, most surprising to me, while 7 in 10 still say they subscribe to the Christian philosophy, the once overwhelming number of protestants now comprise 46.5 percent of our population.

The poll appears professionally done and accurate, with a margin of error of only 0.6 percentage points.

I see these discouraging results as further evidence of a foundering society that has lost touch with its deeper foundations of faith in a divine creator. Seems to me that money (and the corruptive love of it) has become the new God for so many, including those we elect to lead us fairly with integrity and honor.

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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at mikemasterson10@hotmail.com.

Editorial on 05/16/2015

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