EDITORIAL/Smart (phone) Shopping: Do you buy the latest model or do you stick with an older device?

pple's iPhone 13 came out in September and it was a big hit with users.

Now, words is out Apple will release the iPhone 14 model in the fall. And no doubt fans of the smart phone will be lining up to buy just like they've done for previous upgrades.

All the big smart phone makers regularly release new models with all sorts of new or improved bells and whistles. Some user must have the latest and greatest, despite some hefty price tags. But others are happy to stick with older incarnations -- some staying with the same phone, no matter how old, until it no longer works.

How about you? Is having the latest smart phone important to you? Or are you content to stick with an older model phone?

Send your response (50 words maximum) to [email protected] by Wednesday, March 30. You can also mail your response to the Texarkana Gazette Friday Poll, at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504 or drop it off at our office, 101 E. Broad St, Texarkana, Ark. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. We will print as many responses as we can in next Friday's paper.

Last Week: Four-Day Week?

Last week's question was about four-day weeks at public schools. Are four-day weeks a good idea for schools? Or should they stick to traditional five-day weeks?

Absolutely not. Schools have enough days off for all the holidays plus all the school breaks, teacher meeting days. I do not remember getting all these additional days off when I went to school. Every time I turn around the kids are off from school, for something. These kids need more education, like year round school. Also, how does additional hours during the 4 days work for after school extra curriculum? Since, so many folks want to eliminate teaching history and science in school, I guess that's away to get extra hours? Hmm! Not! -- R.K., Texarkana, Texas

Against it. Many parents cannot afford to pay a sitter on the extra day off for their student. They work 5 days and rely on the schools to teach 5 days. -- J.C., Texarkana, Texas

From facebook.com/texarkanagazette

- I don't think that will work.

- I'm all for it!

- Make four day work weeks and sure

- Nope. Kids will have to be at school earlier and get out later. They will also have way more homework to do. Anyone that is FOR this needs to think about that.

- I do not have children, but what will parents do that have young children? They will have to arrange childcare. That can get expensive and many cannot afford it. Just a thought.

- It may work for the school and kids but what about the parents that work the 5th day and don't have or can't afford a sitter?

- Not for this in any way shape or form.

- Sure. Do it, but let the four days begin on Tuesday. Parents will adapt. The purpose for schools is learning, not to provide childcare.

- What day care for many families

- Too long of day for younger kids

- Nope and I work for the school systems! I know. A lot of negative in this. The list is too long.

- This is a benefit for the staff. That's it. They say that the children's academic scores "aren't much different" when they switch to 4 days. That's not true at all. Studies have shown and proven that students have a significant decline in test scores and it takes years to get them back on track. Research yourself, I wont bother arguing about it. Last time I checked school was for the children's benefit. This change would put the staff's wants above the children's needs.

- I'm assuming that would come with longer school days and a longer school year in general which with smaller children isn't the smartest move also parents have a hard enough time tracking down child care or digging up the money for day care. Not to mention a lot of places you have to pay for the entire week even if they only go one day a week. I really see no good reasoning behind it

- Longer school year, longer days & more idle time is a devils playground. Not looking forward to it, but since it's coming, I'm interested to see how it plays out.

- No ... not at all. How about getting back to actually TEACHING our children? Actually CARING whether or not the children are LEARNING? (not saying this applies to ALL teachers just my own personal experience)

- I love the idea of a 4 day week and am willing to try it! If they are struggling in a subject, that gives us a day to work on it at home. If they aren't then we have a three day weekend!

- I'd be for it if not longer days and no extra homework.

- No! My son already be starving when he gets home at 3.

- I work in a district that is a 4 day week. I feel more ready for the week since I had a long weekend and I am able to get more material taught because our day is longer. Kids adjusted well and are benefiting from it tremendously! Also let me add our school provides a snack and we encourage them to bring a snack. So they aren't starving when they get home.

- Awesome hopefully Arkansas will step up to the plate.

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