Speak Out 4/23/07

Right-on column

BRAVO, DOROTHY Nevils. I give you a standing ovation for your right-on column.

National leadership

TO THE caller who thinks Nancy Peloski and her "left-wing cronies will bring down this nation": If the Bush administration hasn't brought this nation down after six-plus years, nothing will. I have lived many years. Believe me, I have never seen anything to equal this. I hope I never do again.

Unfortunate norm

"STANDARDIZED TESTS that gauge how well students are learning as a group don't mean much to the students who must take them and end up penalizing whole schools for deficiencies in teaching subgroups." This statement, while initially focused on student learning, ends up revealing what is really wrong with the No Child Left Behind Act, as well as our views and value of education. True, the tests don't usually mean much to the students. A student's choice. True, the student's lack of concern ends up penalizing whole schools (whole districts?). Government's choice. But the reason for the penalty -- "deficiencies in teaching subgroups" -- reveals a disturbing trend. All of the problems that occur in schools start with teachers and their so-called deficits. It is an assumption that is rooted in ignorance, pride, irresponsibility and arrogance. This assumption, unfortunately, seems to have become the norm.

Drug patrols

I DON'T put all the blame on the police for the drug problem in Cape Girardeau. That wouldn't be fair. But I do blame the police for not patrolling enough in the drug-dealing areas. The police should patrol more in those areas instead of trying to catch people speeding.

Good experiences

I AM a Central Middle School parent. I don't know all the factors that went into the firing of principal Frank Ellis. My experiences with him have been positive, and my children have thrived. I was proud of my daughter and the other students who made their voices heard. They spoke to the board, the community and, most importantly, to Ellis. I don't know if the first two heard them, but I'm sure Ellis did. Well done, students. You do us all proud.

Thanks, Mr. Ellis

I WAS a student of Alma Schrader Elementary School during the time Frank Ellis was principal. He was an excellent principal. I was a student who was always visiting his office. He always set me in my place with the upmost respect and consideration. He was not only my disciplinarian but my friend because of the ability he has to understand and relate to students. His firing is ridiculous. This needs to be reconsidered. And if you read this, Mr. Ellis, thank you for being such a good principal.

School money

HOW IN the world can the superintendent of Leopold School District claim he didn't know that over one-quarter of his students didn't live in the district? Why isn't the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education taking the money for this gross violation? What about Bell City School District? Will it get its money back?

Bully president

THE DEMOCRATS say they are willing to work with President Bush to get the budget passed. But he says no compromise. It sounds like he is still in high school and wants to fight if he can't get his way. The only problem with that is he has someone else do his fighting. The American people don't like the way he is doing things, and he don't care. He is a bully, a coward and an immature person.

Street danger

THERE'S A lot of street construction going on in Cape Girardeau. I see no traffic directors during this construction. That's a dangerous avenue to follow. Both lanes of traffic have cars coming at each other, and nobody is stopping. We need to address this issue before a head-on collision occurs.

Better accounting

AS A second-year Jackson teacher, the shootings at Virginia Tech heightened a concern I have with one of our procedures. We are to record absences and tardies using an online gradebook and attendance program. I asked last year about keeping attendance on paper in a gradebook and was told not to do so, but I do it anyway. However, many of my colleagues do not. Having that hour's attendance on a computer inside the classroom will make it virtually impossible to account for each student in case of an emergency evacuation. I questioned this procedure again today and explained my concerns. My principal said a head count is sufficient. I'm uncomfortable with this philosophy but feel I can't say anything more. Perhaps if concerned parents let the administration know this troubles them, this procedure will be revised and our students can be fully accounted for.

Worrisome incident

THE RECENT Virgina Tech tragedy has reawakened a sleeping threat to vulnerable institutions such as schools, which house high numbers of people. A recent incident on the Southeast Missouri State University campus has caused a problem for me in several ways. There was an assault with a pistol in the University Center. The weapon was not fired, but it was used to strike another person. The event has been handled horribly by the institution, in my opinion. Incidents such as this are warning signs of future disasters.

Speeding penalty

REGARDING people who speed in their vehicles. The Bible says, "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's, and render to man what is man's." If you obey the speed laws, you're protected by both God and man. If you don't, you're going to pay a penalty for sure.

Too much paperwork

ONE OF the reasons for a lot of the paperwork that veterans are complaining about is today's society. It's a paperwork society where paperwork is created for the benefit of the paperwork, not for the benefit of workers. The more paperwork that can be shuffled around, the more people can be hired to take care of this. This gives supervisors and the managers above the workers a bigger paycheck because they have more people working under them. If they'd knock out a lot of that stuff, the price of the paperwork would go way down.

A real concern

I COULDN'T care less about the Don Imus circus or the hip-hop music or freedom of speech. The question making me lose sleep is, what's ailing Big Albert Pujols?

His majesty

I ALWAYS like to read the prayer each morning, and today's says, "Our voices sing out in praises of your majesty." We sang that song in church. It is a beautiful song, "Majesty." Worship his majesty.

Security breach

SECURITY CAMERAS in the county jail are only as good as those who watch them. I may have missed it, but I don't recall reading of any reprimand of any kind. If no corrective measures were taken with the jail employees, the security breach still exists.

Stay in your lane

DOES ANYONE know why there are lines down the middle of the road? It helps distinguish lanes. You stay in your lane, and I'll stay in mine. I've noticed people driving down the road two feet over in the wrong lane. It seems especially prevalent on sharp turns. People take the shortest route regardless of which lane they should be in. People need to realize how dangerous this is. The oncoming cars are forced to either slow down and go off the pavement or come dangerously close to sideswiping the lane invader. Please, stay in your own lane.

Plenty of criticism

I WANT my Imus. I missed Imus this morning. I don't miss his filthy mouth. All I miss is the good country-music entertainment he had on his show every week. Let him be a lesson to all of us who want to judge and criticize others when all we really need to do is look in the mirror. We get plenty of criticism there.

Gambling mess

CAPE GIRARDEAU hasn't missed out on anything by not having a casino here. Go to Metropolis and Caruthersville to gamble. We don't want that mess here.

Not important

PEOPLE WHO call in to the police station on cell phones to report a headlight is out need to understand that the police have a little bit more important stuff to do with robberies and burglaries and vandalism calls, not to mention DWIs and drugs. Let's not bother our police department with a headlight out.

Conscientious smoker

I TAKE exception to the fact that you can't educate smokers about the litter problem. I am a smoker, and I'm not so insensitive that I won't try to step to the side when someone walks by while I'm smoking so that I'm not smoking in front of them and blowing my smoke in front of their face. I also do not like to smoke around my family. And I will not throw my butts on the ground ever since I read in the paper about how they are not biodegradable. I keep an empty bottle in my car so I can put butts in that. I would appreciate if you would not put us all into the same category.