Speak Out 9/13/06

No correlation

There is no correlation between MAP scores and the quality of education in a school. It's a political scam. However, the Southeast Missourian erred in posting that parental involvement in the school is key. No statistically significant correlation there either. Parental involvement in schools reflects, but does not cause, student success.

Not so much danger

Let's look at the terrorism scenario with a little logic. Our government has badly mismanaged the Iraq war and recovery from Hurricane Katrina, among other things. Yet we're supposed to believe it is batting a thousand on preventing terrorism, which it insists threatens us daily. Meanwhile, the number of convictions of suspected terrorists is still zero over five years. Isn't it obvious that this country is not nearly in as much danger as our leaders want us to think?

Failing schools

I take issue with those who blame parents for low test scores at Blanchard and Jefferson elementary schools. Our taxes are supposed to provide for schools that teach all students, not just the ones who can afford preschools and three good meals a day. Why do we still see the same teachers, the same principals, the same counselors in these schools after this many years of not achieving?

Not enough yet

Have I had enough? No, I haven't, I want much more of a booming economy. I want more of the lowest unemployment rate and the highest GDP in decades. I want more of record tax revenue being mostly paid by the wealthy. I want more terrorist plans disrupted and their leaders killed or captured. Vote Democrat? I think not.

Change needed

The No Child Left Behind Act is about accountability. Low test scores are an indicator that a school is not getting the job done. Just because administrators and teachers are likable doesn't mean they are working at an acceptable level. If I have a student in an unsuccessful school, I should be able to give my son or daughter their best chance at success by moving them to a school that meets a higher standard. Low test scores should be a red flag to everyone involved that it's not business as usual. Something needs to change.

Now I'm confused

Let me get this straight. It's OK to attack the president with false stories and evidence about his military service, even though it had been proven to be untrue during his campaign for governor of Texas. It's OK to blame him for something that happened after only a couple of months in office. But make a movie based on hearings that puts some of the blame on the administration that was in office for the eight years prior to 9-11, and the Democratic machine goes into full attack mode. Would someone explain to me again which side is supposed to be rigid and oppressive and which one is enlightened and tolerant? I'm really confused.

Love and respect

If I were new to the Cape Girardeau area and was looking for a church, I am not so sure I would want to become part of any of the churches in the area. Most religious comments made to this column are loaded with thoughts of hate and intolerance. The Bible and Jesus spoke of love and respect.

Bad-mood season

WHENEVER I see a political sign for any candidate for any party, it plummets me into a bad mood of the worst sort. This is a particularly rough time for me because of their omnipresence.

Laws upon laws

WHAT'S SO controversial about enforcing our existing immigration and labor laws? It's appalling that we have to pass laws to enforce laws.

Commission agenda

KUDOS TO the Cape Girardeau County Commission and the Southeast Missourian for printing the agenda in the paper. This is a step in the right direction. It is nice to see.

This is real

IN RESPONSE to the Mike Smythe's op-ed column "KFVS12 offers rationale for airing '9/11' tonight": Considering the tragic loss that happened on 9-11, to focus on expletives as opposed to the broader picture is ignorant. This documentary is real, and with that comes real emotions. Whether the documentary was censored or not does not really matter. Taking out the expletives doesn't change the fact that about 3,000 people lost their lives.

Teaching basics

WITH ALL the hype about teachers, I wonder why they still teach. When I was a child I was taught by teachers who wanted to teach. We were taught the basics. When we passed from one grade to another, it was because we had learned what we were supposed to. If we didn't, we failed. Nowadays its seems teaching is more about money. Bring back the teachers who want to teach.

Honor the day

THE COMMENT suggesting Sept. 11 should be declared a national holiday is ridiculous. We need to honor that day by doing what we were all doing on that day: going to work, continuing with our lives and not letting the horror of that day bring us down. Terrorists wanted to cripple this country financially by hitting the beacon of capitalism. Let's not play into their plan anymore.

Flag respect

IT IS Sept. 11. As I drive through Jackson and Cape Girardeau, it is upsetting to see many businesses with their flags flying at full staff. It's great they are flying the flag, but fly it with some respect for those who died in the 9-11 attacks and respect for the flag. Many flags are torn and tattered.

Good for downtown

THE GOOD news about the post office being back on Frederick Street is it makes you aware of downtown. I would like to see the post office in the old Sears building because it would be more convenient to me as a shopper. But when the post office has been downtown, I've always taken the opportunity to shop there and eat there. So I think it's good for downtown that the post office is located here.

Tired of rehash

I AM so sick of hearing about the events of Sept. 11, 2001. I'm sorry innocent lives were lost. Not a day has gone by that I don't hear that date. Those terrorists would have never acted if our country would just leave the rest of the world alone.

Fewer terrorists

MORE THAN 5,000 terrorists have been captured or killed in the five years since the 9-11 attacks, CIA director Gen. Michael Hayden said. It sounds like there are 5,000 fewer terrorists plotting to kill us. God bless you, President Bush.

Iraq trumps list

COLUMNIST MONA Charen listed seven reasons why she believes President Bush is back or well on the way back. One word easily erases Charen's list: Iraq.

People's choice

INSTEAD OF another cut-and-dried deal behind closed doors, give the new federal building a name for one of our forefathers who established this city, like Girardot, Lorimier or Houck. It should be the people's choice.

Malicious cowards

I WAS reading about the terrible attack on a physically handicapped young man. Maybe if these children don't have anything else to do, we could send them to Iraq. On second thought, I don't think so, because they're cowards and would probably run from the war.

Support for research

MY HAT'S off to Robert A. Hrabik for writing the article on stem cells. He has hit the nail on the head. He understands the issue thoroughly. If these opponents to stem-cell research had family members who were sick and could benefit from stem cells obtained without cloning and without destroying life, they would have a different swing on the whole deal. I respect anybody who is interested in stem cells. I do not respect President Bush for squashing it. I think Amendment 2 is the best thing for the future of stem-cell research. I hope people get on board and support it.

Nuisance weeds

I'M CALLING about the Johnson grass along U.S. 61 between Benton and Morley. The highway department needs to spray it. It's gone to seed, and it keeps spreading.