JACKSON SETS GOOD EXAMPLE ON TEACHERS MEETING: TEACHERS WHO WANT TO GO GET TIME OFF

The annual Southeast Missouri District Teachers Meeting has a long and proud history in Cape Girardeau. The annual meetings began in 1876 and has served as an important training and motivational tool for teachers.

Attendance, which once ranked in the thousands, has dwindled to just over 500 teachers at this year's general session. Some teachers went to other sessions over the course of the day, but without required attendance, it's hard to get a firm count on participation.

Teacher training is important, but parents should not pay for a day off for teachers. Many working parents must either pay for day care or take the day off to stay home with the children.

Training should be required -- with attendance taken -- for teachers if school is let out.

More schools should consider following the example of Jackson, which didn't dismiss for the meeting. It gave teachers the choice of attending the district meeting or local in-service professional training.

If teachers want to attend the district meeting, substitutes should be brought in so students can stay in the classroom where they belong.