Teen debate

Why Cape needs a water park

~ By DAKOTA COUNTS, DENNIS LOPEZ and BLYTHE BOSTIC

We, the citizens of Cape Girardeau, think our city should build a water park.

One reason we feel this way is that a water park would bring in more tourists and money to our city. The second reason is our residents wouldn't have to travel out of town to visit a water park. The third reason is that it would give our residents of all ages a chance to have fun.

In a recent poll, 95 percent of people said they thought a water park would bring in more tourists and money. Cape Girardeau continues to try to bring in more tourists, but it never brings in a significant amount. The money gained from a water park would also help Cape Girardeau build other things.

Another reason is that people won't have to travel out of town to go to a water park. In the poll, 52 percent of people said they traveled out of town to go to a water park more than four times a year. About 10 percent of people traveled out of town to go to a water park 10 or more times per year.

Ninety-six percent of people polled said they would go to a water park in Cape Girardeau. A water park would make people really happy because they would have a chance to have a lot of fun.

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~ By TEVIN WILLIAMS, ADELINE YATES, HOLLY TEAGUE and TELEA PULLEN

We the students of Central Junior High School feel that Cape Girardeau needs a water park. We believe a water park is a family activity that would help Cape with some of its exercise needs and help its economy by bringing in more money.

In a recent poll, 96 percent of students and teachers said that the city should have a water park. If we build a water park, Cape would be improved for many reasons.

One of the reasons to build a water park would be to create a place for families. This would be a place of fun and enjoyment for people of all ages. An attraction like this wouldn't just be exciting rides, but a structured environment where young people could enjoy themselves. This is especially important during those long summer days while mom and dad are working.

Another reason to building a water park would be to encourage exercise. A water park would be healthy and would have medical benefits for the surrounding area as well. While at the park, people would be swimming, walking or perhaps running to different attractions. In doing these activities, people could lose weight, which could prevent them from becoming ill with diseases linked to obesity.

The last reason Cape should build a water park is that it would help the economy grow. Economical growth could mean many things such as an increase in tourism, growing businesses and increase in tax revenue. The more people coming to Cape would bring our town new customers.

We believe it is in Cape's best interest to have a water park attraction that would basically help the area in general.

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Allowing teachers to talk

~ By KAILEE COCHRAN, MELISSA DULLUM, VEDA RILEY and ALLIE WOLZ

We are students at a local junior high school writing about a concern of ours. We believe that teachers of upper classes should be able to express their opinion in the classroom, because it opens students' minds, gives students an educated opinion and enhances a student's educational experience.

We believe that teachers should be able to express their opinion because we, as students, appreciate being treated as adults. Teachers expose us to new ideas and let us form our own opinions. Teachers also give facts to support both sides of an argument, so that the opinions are made with an educated mind.

Obviously, there will be arguments against teachers giving their opinion in the classroom, the most pressing being people getting offended. However, 69 percent of students polled have never been offended by a teacher.

The poll also showed that 77 percent of students believe that a teacher's opinion would open their eyes to new ideas. One 8th grade students who was interviewed found that he had been exposed to a new perspective, saying "Once or twice it has shown me that there was a reasonable argument to be said about the subject, and that could change your opinion."

In conclusion, teacher of mature, self-thinking students should be able to practice freedom of speech in the classroom. In the poll, 84 percent of students said they believe teachers should be able to express their opinions in the classroom. Students will always hear someone's opinions, so why shouldn't they be free to listen to an educated adult's opinion?

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Cape needs teen center

~ By RICKELLE AARON, FRANKLIN HOLLINGER, NATHEN BERRY and ALEXANDER CRAWFORD

As teenagers who live in Cape Girardeau, we feel that we need a teen center in our town. A teen center would bring a lot of tourist money to Cape because it would bring a lot of teenagers from Southeast Missouri here to have a good time.

We also understand a teen center would also bring some negative issues. It would definitely cost a lot of money to build a center, and there is also the issue of finding a good location. But there are also some good reasons for building a teen center.

One reason is that almost all of the "just for kids" places have been shut down. Another reason to build a teen center is that it might curb teen crime. Some teens are running around on the streets doing drugs and committing crimes because they do not have a place to go for positive fun. A just-for-teens place might also put a stop to teens loitering in public places, such as the mall and movie theaters. Finally, it might stop public vandalism.

A third reason to build a center is that it would bring money to Cape Girardeau. In a poll, 82 percent of teenagers polled said they would pay a fee to get into a teen center and 71 percent said they would attend regularly.

These are reasons we feel that Cape needs a teen center. This project might take time and effort, but it could pay off in the long run.