Speak Out 01/10/03

Classroom discipline

IT IS true that there are teachers who cannot control their classrooms, but there are more who can and do. The only problem is those classes are described as boring and not fun. Teachers are expected to make their entire teaching experience fun. Get real. It just isn't possible, practical or prudent. As a teacher and parent, I stand behind the teachers and the rules of the school systems and expect all students to be treated and disciplined the same way. The undisciplined classroom is due in part to administrators and teachers, but for too many years now our hands have been tied by laws, regulations and parents who encourage their children to refuse to do something they don't want to do, threaten teachers with parental lawsuits and to get the teachers fired. What an attitude to instill in our children.

They had an opportunity

THE ONLY difference between the greedy corporate CEOs and most of us is that they had an opportunity to satisfy their greed.

CAPE GIRARDEAU and Missouri are continuously trying to find new ways to raise taxes. Somebody needs to look at states like Texas where there is no income tax, yet more and more businesses want to move there and the state has plenty of money. Texas has plenty of money to take care of things. Missouri ought to follow suit.

THE STATE of Missouri has committed itself to some $7 million for a nature trail and museum at County Park North and $18 million for a River Campus for the arts. These might be acceptable expenditures in a perfect world, but they are not acceptable in a down economy with a state budget unbalanced. Do you wonder why taxpayers keep voting no on all new taxes? The same questionable spending and taxpayer reaction also applies to the city of Cape Girardeau.

Costly peacemaking

I SEE President Bush has called on South Korea and Russia to make peace with the North Koreans. I wonder what that's going to cost us. I wonder how much money and nuclear power we'll have to give to Russia and South Korea.

Get the drug thugs

LET PRESIDENT Bush go after these drug thugs of this world. Just look at the tragedy these drug cartels have caused in the South American countries and even in our own country. So, go get them, President Bush.