Another pointless survey

The number of worthless surveys out there is mind-numbing. A classic example is the Association for Children of New Jersey's ranking of counties as being the best and worst for children. Almost all of the factors used to determine the rankings are correlates of wealth. The higher a county's income, the better it will fare. It's hardly coincidental that the wealthiest counties in the state came out on top, and the poorest - urban and rural - were clustered at the bottom.

Monmouth County was ranked 6th out of 21 counties. Ocean ranked 12th. Those two counties aren't among the best for kids? With the beaches, the parks, the schools, the athletics, the recreation and the doting parents equal to those in any county?

Identifying issues important to the well-being of children and trying to shine the spotlight on problems is one thing. Turning the numbers into an intramural contest between counties - one in which the outcome is predetermined by demographics - is another. The association should put an end to the rankings.