Entering the Contest

<br clear="all"><div align="center" style="line-height: 2em;"> <h2>THE 2011 POLK COUNTY STUDENT EDITORIAL WRITING CONTEST</h2> <br></div><p><b>ELIGIBILITY:</b> All students in Polk County schools, public or private or homeschooled in Polk County.</p><p><b>DEFINITION:</b> An editorial is a written expression of opinion. It takes a stand, usually for or against something or someone. It backs up that opinion with logical reasoning and, if possible, with facts and figures. A newspaper editorial tries to persuade readers that its opinion is right. It should be written in the third person (Example: “Florida should be better prepared for hurricanes,” not “I think Florida should be better prepared for hurricanes”).</p><p><b>CATEGORIES:</b> Awards will be presented in three categories – High School (9-12), Middle School (6-8) and Elementary School (K-5).</p><p><b>AWARDS:</b> Cash prizes and plaques will go to the top three entries in each category. The three first-place winners each will receive a $250 award, the three second-place winners each will receive a $200 award and the three third-place winners each will receive a $150 award.</p><p><b>PUBLICATION:</b> The nine winning student editorials will be announced and published on The Ledger's Op-Ed Page on the tentative dates of <b>DECEMBER 7, 8 and 9</b>, along with photographs of the three first-place winners and the names of their teachers. As many as 10 runners-up in each category will be announced.</p><p><b>ONLINE POSTING:</b> TheLedger.com will post the winners as outlined in “Publication” above. Additionally, videos of the three first-place winners reading their editorials will be taken by The Ledger and posted on TheLedger.com.</p><p><b>LENGTH:</b> Editorials in the Elementary School category MUST be from 100 words to 150 words. Editorials in the Middle School and High School categories MUST be from 300 words to 400 words. Limits on length will be enforced.</p><p><b>JUDGING:</b> Entries will be screened by the Communication Department at Florida Southern College. Winners will be selected by editors of The Ledger.</p><p><b>ISSUES:</b> All entries must comment on ONE of the following topics:</p><p><ul><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>CUTS IN FLORIDA EDUCATION FUNDING.</i></span> In its annual March-to-May session, the Florida Legislature cut funding to public schools across the state by more than $1 billion for the 2011-2012 school year. As a result, Florida reduced annual spending per student from $6,809 to $6,269 . That $540-per-student decrease is a loss of 7.9 percent. Are Florida's schools able to absorb the $1 billion reduction and educate students as well as before, or is the reduction harmful to education in Florida?</li></p><p><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>NEARSHORE OIL DRILLING.</i></span> Bills filed in the Florida House of Representatives (HJR 23) and the Florida Senate (SJR 90) would result in a statewide referendum in the 2012 general election that would ask voters to amend the state constitution. The amendment would “prohibit the exploration, drilling, extraction or production of oil beneath Florida waters,” which extend about 10 miles off the coast. The purpose is to conserve natural resources and beauty, and prevent pollution. Should drilling be allowed near the Florida shore so more oil may be produced, or should the state constitution be amended to prohibit nearshore oil drilling?</li></p><p><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC.</i></span> A campus for a type of university new to Florida is being built in northeast Lakeland. USF Polytechnic focuses on scientific research, and how to make practical use of the research findings for business. A group of Polk County civic leaders has asked the State University System's Board of Governors to separate the university from the USF System. Some students worry that they would miss out on the advantages of attending a USF university. The civic leaders say the polytechnic would operate better as an independent state university that can make decisions that apply only to a polytechnic. Should the State University System leave the polytechnic as a part of USF or make it a separate state university?</li></ul></p><p></p><p><b>DEADLINE:</b> Teachers and/or department heads must submit their <span style="text-decoration: underline;">two (2) best entries per class</span> by <b>WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9</b>. A homeschooled student's parent or guardian may submit one entry. On each entry, include the name of the teacher (including his/her first name); the name and grade of the student; the name of the school and the city where the school is located; and the teacher's school e-mail address and school telephone, for contact purposes.</span></p><p>Entries may be hand-delivered to The Ledger offices at 300 W. Lime St., Lakeland, or 455 Sixth St. N.W., Winter Haven, or mailed to:</p><p><b>Student Editorial Contest </p><p>The Ledger </p><p>PO Box 408 </p><p>Lakeland, FL 33802</b></p><p>(Entries may not be delivered by email.)</p><p><b>QUESTIONS:</b> For further information, send an email to Glenn Marston, editorial page editor, at glenn.marston@theledger.com or call him at 863-802-7600.</p>