Speak Out 1/1/06

School scheduling

MY CHILD goes to Cape Middle School and has three teachers, one for math, another for social studies and science and a homeroom teacher. The school also has an art teacher, librarian, computer teacher, PE teacher and music teacher. In fourth grade it was the same way at Alma Schrader Elementary School. The time students use to go to different classes could be used for an extra recess. They only have one now. And experts wonder why students have an obesity problem. Or the students could have extra classroom time. I don't appreciate a principal or superintendent assuming one recess is a good idea.

Not mandatory

GIVING BLOOD is not mandatory, nor should it be for organ donation. Government has a great potential for misuse, and we need to keep our freedom. You can choose to designate organ donation, if you want.

Starting salary

THIS IS in response to the teacher who said teachers don't get holidays off with pay. Based on that, they work 180 days a year, which works out to $20 an hour for starting teachers. There are a lot of people in Cape Girardeau who have a college degree and want a job that works 180 days at $20 an hour.

More jobs

PRESIDENT WAS asked what his wish and hopes are for next year. One of the things he hoped for was more jobs. One way to increase jobs would be to quit shipping our jobs off to China. We need stricter import laws so China can't bring its stuff over here so easily.

Areas for playing

PERHAPS MALLS need to have two play areas, one for tots and one for older kids. Older kids like to have fun too. If the play area at the mall is not suitable, take your kid to a park. The fresh air will do them good.

Location, location

THE COMMENT that the Cape Girardeau Post Office is "in the bad part of town" is ridiculous. It's mere blocks away from the Southeast Missouri State University campus, and I never felt my life was in danger buying stamps.

No more crime

I THINK we owe our local law enforcement a great vote of thanks for putting a stop to all crime in our area. This surely must be the case, since Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, having just removed the embezzlers from his office, can find nothing more pressing than a crackdown on office football pools.

Bad conscience

I HOPE the person who left the scene after letting his car door slam into mine on a parking lot can sleep at night knowing that God knows what he did.

Unfair taxation

I WOULD like to know when the residents of Cape Girardeau County are going to start being taxed fairly. I am a senior citizen on a fixed income. I have just paid my taxes and am appalled that I paid $284 to the road district. I live on a poorly maintained gravel road riddled with potholes. I paid $99 to the library that I don't use. I paid $288 to the Fruitland fire district and live so far from the one and only firehouse that I am considered by the insurance community as not being in a fire district, thus I pay high rates for my insurance. I paid $4,504 to the school district and have no children or grandchildren in that school district. When do seniors get a break? Just because we worked hard all of our lives to finally have something, government feels the need to tax us to death. Why don't the people who use these facilities and services pay for them? Those that don't should at least get a tax break. The current system is unfair and should be changed.

Canine assistance

KUDOS TO the Cape Girar-deau police officer who helped the dog on the bridge the night of Dec. 27. It makes me feel good to know if my dog was in need that she would be taken care of.