OpinionJanuary 9, 2007
Speak Out 1/9/07
You have to pay; Comply with the law; Jobs at stake; Top priorities; Parents not involved; Race not a factor
You have to pay
IT WILL be interesting when everyone chastising the city for not raising the pay of unskilled part-time workers, which are the only ones affected by this minimum-wage controversy, squeals like a stuck pig when their taxes and bills for city services go up.
Comply with the law
I CANNOT believe Cape Girardeau officials decided they do not have to comply with the state minimum-wage law passed by voters in November. That is the trouble in government at all levels. Officials believe people must answer to the government, not government answering to the people. Cape Girardeau is the only city in the state that is not in compliance. Comply with the law. It is that simple. We spend thousands of dollars on consulting fees each year that we should not have to pay when we have all of these city officials on the payroll, but in return Cape refuses to comply with the minimum-wage law.
Jobs at stake
IF I were a city employee, I'd stay at the mayor's office until I was paid the $6.50 an hour that the law says I am due. Cape Girardeau is no better than any other employer that is having to pay the minimum-wage increase. Maybe the mayor and other elected officials holding up the pay increase should think about their jobs.
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Top priorities
THE NEW Congress' priorities should be secure our southern border, enforce our immigration laws, arrest employers who hire illegal alien invaders and deport illegal alien invaders. Another priority should be to interpret the 14th Amendment as it was meant to be and deny automatic U.S. citizenship to the children of invaders.
Parents not involved
AS A former Central High School teacher who resigned a few years ago, I am not surprised by the low graduation rate of black students, and I can assure you that it is not something the district can change. In an average class of 25, with 16 white and nine black students, I taught the 25 students the exact same way, gave them all the same materials and study helps and the same tests, and graded their papers the same way. However, in the seven years I taught at CHS, I never had a black parent contact me about a child's progress. At the fall open house, almost every white student's parents would be there, often both parents, while maybe one black student would be represented. Parent conferences were also rarely attended by black parents. The parents' involvement and home life is the main culprit, and the district cannot, unfortunately for these students, change that at all.
Race not a factor
IN RESPONSE to the story "Cape's grad rate low for blacks": I thought segregation was over. It is kind of hard to believe with articles like this. I am not even a black person, and I am offended. The graduation rate is low. Why not keep it at that? I don't think you have to be one color or another to be hardheaded and drop out of school. I hope everyone's brain is still forming the same, I haven't seen any reports showing how tan you are is controlling how you function in life.
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