Speak Out 11/13/07

All those numbers

HOW CAN Cape Girardeau School District students be expected to master numbers on the MAP tests if the school board can't keep its own auditing numbers straight?

Way too scary

AT FIRST I thought I'd support the idea of having next year's Halloween in the empty federal courthouse. However, I changed my mind. It would be too scary. No doubt the place would be haunted by the ghosts of dead lobbyists, deceased politicians and zombie-like apparitions in the shapes of various and sundry pork-barrel projects.

Costume fun

I WAS ecstatic when I went to Notre Dame Regional High School Oct. 31 to buy play tickets and saw all of the students and staff dressed up for Halloween. I attended public school in Jackson, and dressing up was so much fun. Today, dressing up is considered a distraction, and our youngsters can't enjoy that simple pleasure. While this is only one example, political correctness is going to make our country crumble on itself, and we won't know what's happening until it's too late.

Food blessing

MY AUNT is 96 years young and receives $530 a month from Social Security. Thanks to Angel Food Ministries she is able to purchase healthy food for two weeks for the total cost of $12.50. She is able to retain her dignity by paying for the food and not receiving a handout. May God continue to bless this program, which is a ministry and not a grocery store, and all who provide it.

American drug wars

MY HUSBAND and I agree we should legalize drugs and charge $20 for each drug. That way there wouldn't be any drug dealers, and there wouldn't be so many people in prison. Legalizing drugs would save our government a bunch of money, and the money from drug sales would reduce the national deficit. Look at all the other countries that have legalized drugs but don't have guns. Why wouldn't that be a good way to fight the war on drugs?

More on Broadway

I READ about Broadway, and I don't think some of those buildings should be shut down. I think there should be more things on Broadway. What do you all think of it? Should we give it to the college or somebody else?

Political churches

NOW THAT the U.S. Senate is looking into the tax-exempt status of evangelists, I think it should look into the tax-exempt status of churches whose ministers push their political views.

Saving gasoline

THIS COMMENT is about people complaining about gasoline prices. It's apparent people don't care. All you have to do is get on the highway and try doing the speed limit. You get run over. If people were concerned about gas prices, they would slow down. If they want to do something about it, slow down to the speed limit or below.

Cat gauge

WITH REGARD to Joe Sullivan's column, "The cat gauge": He is so on about cats. I have a Himalayan that does all the same things. He dips his paw into ice cream or whatever he wants and then eats off his paws. He curls himself into a pretty tight ball, but thank Joe for the idea of the electric blanket. I've been putting my cat in the cat box with a light on, but I think the blanket would work better. Thanks, Joe. What a great job you do. This Mr. Sullivan must be a nice, kind person to take the time to observe a cat. I love my cat, and Joe seems like such a nice man. I'll give my cat a hi-ho for you, Joe.

No restrooms

IF THE city and business owners on Broadway and Main Street want to know the most important thing about making your businesses inaccessible to families, it is the lack of bathrooms. Families with small children reject the idea of being directed to a portable outhouse at the other end of the street. I can understand why businesses don't want to provide bathrooms to the public. But therein lies the reason why my family doesn't shop in the business district downtown.

Taxes going up

IN THE past 15 years, my property taxes have gone up around $400. I have not made any improvements, and no one has done an on-site assessment. So why is this happening? I see where most of the money goes to the Cape Girardeau School District. I know from personal experience there's been no improvements there either. Makes you wonder, don't it?

Personal property taxes

WHY DO we have to pay tax on our personal property? We pay sales taxes on vehicles when we buy them. Why do we have to keep paying every year at Christmas time? I'm tired of it.

Science class

MY KIDS have all gone to Jackson schools. I am concerned about the situation my daughter is facing this year. This is my third child to go through, and when we get to the junior high school, we've always been very impressed with the science program. We've had two teachers, and the kids did lots of experiments and hands-on things. The lessons were challenging and pertinent. This year, my daughter has a new teacher, and the students do nothing but read the book and do worksheet after worksheet. She's not getting the same type of activities. They're not covering things that I know are going to show up on the MAP test, and she's not doing the things that are going to be expected of her when she moves to the next level. I've taken my concerns to the teacher. I've taken my concerns to the building administrator. It's obvious nothing's going to be done. What's going on in this classroom should be looked at.