LETTERS: SCHOOL, CHURCH AREN'T SEPARATED

To the editor:

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a New Hamburg School Board meeting. What I observed was opinions based on popular vote rather than good judgment. I would like to describe two issues which were ruled on at this meeting that disturbed me to say the least.

It was discussed whether or not to allow two new eighth graders to participate in cheerleading. Traditionally, it is my understanding, you could not cheer if your were not an eighth grader. If there were not enough eighth graders, then seventh graders were allowed to try out and fill vacancies. These two new eighth graders were met by a booster club stacked with angry mothers of seventh graders, mothers who were determined to block the new girls from participating based on a letter that was mailed at the end of the prior school year. This letter was sent to students who already attend the New Hamburg school. Any new student transferring into New Hamburg was unaware of any booster club letter. There were no tryouts, just a signup sheet. Not a single board member asked to see the letter they were about to base their ruling on. There is nothing in the school rules that preclude new students from participating in any school activity. I watched a school board of six so-called intelligent people who were twice unable to second a motion for a vote in favor of the new students. It was obvious they were completely intimidated by the crowd. This issue has come before the school board on three occasions. In July, they voted against letting the new students cheer. In August, they overturned that ruling and voted in favor of letting the new students cheer. In this last meeting, they changed their vote again and voted against allowing the new students to cheer. How wishy-washy can a board be who were put ther to represent the best interests of the students? This board didn't have the best interests of these students in mind when they voted. They did not vote their conscience. They were in favor of re-election votes. They made it clear these new students were not welcome. It is my opinion that these two girls were discriminated against.

The second issue involved teacher salaries. The board decided not to offer teachers raises that would be due them in the future. It was apparently due to some additional college hours they were expected to pick up toward a master's program. I understand that one of the teachers has taught at this school for 19 years. So much for any additional contributions she has made to the school and her students in the past 19 years. Was this an excuse to avoid the pay increase, or will the additional college hours make a big difference in her teaching skills after 19 years?

After leaving the board meeting with an angry, sick feeling in my stomach, I decided to do a little investigating. I found that the president of the school board has sat in that chair for 17 years. This is too long. I also found out this public school is run by Catholics in a very Catholic way. For instance, students are given an excused tardy on holy days to attend Mass at the local Catholic church. This privilege is not extended to students of other denominations. Every Wednesday morning students are excused to attend a youth Mass at the local church. One mother commented she was disappointed her son missed some school activities because they were announced in the Catholic church bulletin. Since she doesn't attend that church, her son didn't receive the announcements.

What happened to separation of church and state? Why are these people being allowed to use public tax dollars to discriminate against students who are not of their faith? I am appalled that our state does not police our education system better than that. The issue here has to do with the laws that mandate separation of church and state. I do not believe that children in a public school should feel they should compromise their religious beliefs in order to fit in. Can you imagine in this kind of environment how intimidated and isolated students from other denominations feel who attend this school?

By what I observed, things will not change unless concerned citizens step up to change them. I urge the public to write Dr. Robert Bartman, Missouri Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, 205 Jefferson St., Jefferson City, Mo. 65102. Let him know as taxpayers that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.

TINA L. TRICKEY

Cape Girardeau