CAPE UPDATE: TRIBUTE OFFERED TO CHILDREN, TEACHERS

Plato attributed to Socrates the following:

"The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs and tyrannize their teachers."

It is the opinion of some people that the youth of today have not changed from those in the days of Socrates. While much of what we see, hear and read via the media regards the waywardness of our youth, we somehow forget to observe a whole other segment of our children. For all practical purposes these young people go unnoticed. Perhaps the reason they go unnoticed is their exposure time to the general community is virtually non-existent.

As the Christmas holiday nears, the children of our community have been involved in various activities, i.e., basketball games, cheerleading, pom pons, academic tournaments, wrestling, swimming competitions, winter concerts and church activities.

The students to whom I refer extend beyond athletics, performing arts or other activities. They are the students who are involved. They are those who may be a part of a team, orchestra or both. They literally spend hours of collective practice time in order to achieve that unique and special sound or to execute the one play needed. In between the hours of collective practices they steal away individually and work to ensure they fulfill their commitment to the group. For all those hours of dedicated work, individually or collectively, these students may only be revealed to the public for just a few short minutes.

In each of these situations there are trained adults who share these long hours with the children. In the case of Cape Girardeau public schools these adults are too numerous to mention. An example of this dedication to students is portrayed by the district's music department. The exhibition of vocal musical talent does not occur by chance. It is the culmination of hours of teaching, coaching, encouragement and critiquing by Judy Williams and Susie Nall. The same teaching-learning process is true for instrumental music, with Ron Nall, Neil Casey and Steve Schaffner working diligently with their respective students. We cannot ignore the elementary music teachers, who introduced this desire to pursue these talents and lessons.

It is equally important to note the community's responsibility in grasping the opportunity to witness and experience the talents of these young people. On Dec. 7, Cape Central Junior High School held its annual winter concert. These musical ensembles included eighth- and ninth-grade choirs, band and orchestra performances, with approximately 500 students involved. The Central High School auditorium was filled to capacity with approximately 1,000 people. On Dec. 14, the Senior High School students performed their winter concert, and likewise, a strong turnout.

Those who attended witnessed for just a few short moments the product of the students' and teachers' hours of hard work and study. You were able to see and experience some of the genuine joy of the holiday season, and hopefully realize the many blessings we have as a community. Each and every child provides us with those special blessings of youth and a bright future for the years to come.

On behalf of the Board of Education, the administration, the entire faculty and staff, and the children of Cape Girardeau public schools, we extend a greeting of Happy Holidays and Best Wishes to all throughout the New Year.