LETTERS: JACKSON PRIDE TAKES HARD WORK PLUS SUPPORT

To the editor:

Folks, did you see the 8,000-plus fans last Friday at the Jackson-Cape football game? If you did, you understand what we talk about when we talk about Jackson pride. Can you believe 8,000-plus fans went to a high school football game? Most small colleges and several big universities would be more than happy to have 8,000-plus on a Friday evening watching a college game, let along a local high school game. That's Jackson pride pride in our school system.

Forget about the sports program a minute. Let's talk about what else makes Jackson pride. The Jackson school system has a great teaching staff no, it's not a great teaching staff. It's a world-class teaching staff, not only in reading, writing and arithmetic, but also in extracurricular activities. If you've seen our band practicing on a hot August morning preparing for its many appearances, you can understand Jackson pride. In addition to the great band, there are debate teams, choir, drama, dance and many other specialty extracurricular activities that go to make a great school district.

Lucky for us, some of these teachers don't opt for free-agency status, as they are the Will Clarks and Mark McGwires of the teaching world.

Unfortunately, some relative newcomers who have just moved to this area want to take control of the Jackson school system. They really don't care about our children. They just want control. For them, it's not about the kids. It's about power.

If you have differences with the administration, complain to the school board. If you have problems with the school board, who it at the ballot box. Quit taking it out on the kids. The kids come first. The gremlins need to stop nickel-and-diming our kids for they own personal gratification. Instead of nickel-and-diming our wonderful school system, we need to give a few extra dollars to make it even better.

MICHAEL L. TOMLIN

Jackson, Mo.