All kids deserve good education in every school

To the editor:

I went to old Jefferson Elementary School and May Greene Elementary School in the 1940s and 1950s when no one knew what desegregation was. I went to school with white students who lived in Smelterville. My family wasn't rich, but we had a nice home and plenty of love. The unfortunate thing about the Smelterville kids was the fact they had nothing to look forward to, which was a terrible situation.

I went through forced segregation with my children in St. Louis County. They are going through the same thing with my grandchildren. Millions of dollars have been expended by the taxpayers of Missouri to move minority students to the more affluent schools in St. Louis County, and it hasn't accomplished all that much improvement. Little consideration is given to the fact they return home to a less-than-desirable environment for the remaining 18 hours of the day. If all that busing money were spent on providing a good neighborhood school, things might improve.

I don't think busing will make the problem in Cape Girardeau go away, since it hasn't in the past 30 or 40 years. I find it hard to believe that if any child, were given the time and patience by our educators, this problem would change someday. Such assistance much reach out into the homes and neighborhoods where they spend 18 hours a day. I hope and pray the schools in Cape Girardeau provide all the kids with a good education regardless of their background.

LARRY D. SWANN

Kimberling City, Mo.