Speak Out 9/24/07

Circle access

WHY CREATE another circle drive when one already exists? Close off the drive that runs from Caruthers Avenue to Clark Avenue beside the Central Pool to everything but bus traffic and make it one-way. Take the buses through the circle by the old band rooms. Buses used to go through there, and if you take the parking spaces out there's even more room to navigate. If there's concern about cutting off traffic by the pool, put a barrier by the exit of the circle and have the buses go out the little street onto Independence Street. Don't spend that much money to make a circle when such a thing exists.

Bridge to ... where?

IF SIKESTON wants this bridge built, it need to go into the igloo-building business and cut a trade-in deal with porkaholic U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens from Alaska.

Boy Scout way

WHY COULDN'T the world live by Boy Scout standards: Be kind, courteous, cheerful, reverent, obedient, trustworthy, as well as being careful in our outdoor manners and leaving things better than we found them. These methods have worked for a worldwide organization that many of our current leaders have been a part of. Why can't we take a cue from the Scouts and do a good turn daily?

Doing a great job

CENTRAL JUNIOR High School has some excellent teachers, administrators and staff members who care about education and young people. I am sure there are those who are burned out and tired of criticism and lack of parental involvement just like at most public schools. Instead of griping about the teachers, we should talk to the teachers to hear both sides of the story. What have you done lately to show your appreciation to someone who is doing a great job in your child's education?

Change is essence

IN REFERENCE to a comment about the Central Pool, there is no such thing as a "permanent structure." Change, not permanence, is the essence of all living and non-living entities.

Give back contributions

IT'S INTERESTING that the Republicans (who passed the ethically questionable law eliminating contribution caps) are still defending their right to claim their unethical contributions. Considering the rising skepticism regarding the credibility of our state and national elected officials, is this really a wise stance to take? Everyone should give the money back. Accept the error of your ways and give it back. You'll look a lot better in the eyes of your constituents if you do.

Duty to stay

IN ORDER to cleanse our national conscience for what the U.S. has in large part created in Iraq, we have no choice but to stay until things are generally straightened out and stabilized.

Act, don't complain

YOU KNOW what would be fabulous? A community that supports education and becomes involved rather than shunning and complaining about every educational establishment in the area. Look at any other college town and you see public support on every street corner. Businesses are even named after local college and high school teams. In Cape Girardeau, the city and the university are in constant battle; the new high school is considered an unnecessary expense. Junior high school teachers are accused of bullying. Elementary schools are criticized for their students' performance. Even the new preschool program cannot escape the wrath. Instead of complaining, investigate. If you cannot propose a solution, don't offer your negative opinion. Instead of joining the "against" side, become involved. That is what can make the most impact, not complaining to Speak Out.

Visit a school

THE TEACHERS at Central Junior High School do not have time during their day to bully kids. Each teacher sees 100-plus students a day, and each class barely lasts over half and hour. Students who are afraid to turn in work are probably placing blame on their teachers to avoid doing their work. Too many people have a rosy image of education happening in a quiet, controlled environment. It's not the 1950s anymore. Trying to keep students under control is what takes the most effort in the day so teachers can squeeze in some education to those interested in learning. In my day, the paddle (ultimate bullying?) was used to keep kids in line, but everyone banded together and put a stop to that. Threatening students with low grades when they don't do their work or behave in class seems logical, not bullying. Maybe some people can arrange for a visit to local schools to see for themselves what it's like. That may be pretty eye-opening.

Running red lights

HAS ANYONE noticed how many people are running red lights lately? It's getting much worse. The light will turn green, and I'm still waiting on a line of vehicles to leave the intersection, especially at Broadway and Kingshighway. Let's write some tickets and raise some extra money.

No eating either

I READ where someone doesn't want anyone to smoke at the SEMO District Fair. I say let's quit everything, eating too. The reason so many people smoke is because of the high stress they are under. That is also why so many people eat so much and are overweight. One is just as bad as the other.

Learn to play taps

MY FATHER and husband are veterans, and it doesn't bother me one bit that they will have a taped version of taps at their funerals. When they pass away, that will be the last thing on my mind. For those of you who are so upset, I have the perfect solution, one that can be implemented fairly quickly. Call the Southeast Missouri State University Music Department. Sign up for bugle lessons. Rent or buy a bugle. Learn to play taps. Contact the local veterans organizations and tell them you are willing to play taps at veterans' funerals. Problem solved. If you see a problem, don't gripe or wait for someone else to fix it. Do something yourself.

Grades not averaged

YOUR ARTICLE on Jackson's grading system perplexes me and some of my colleagues, all teachers at a Jackson secondary school. Your article states that first and second quarter grades were, in the past, averaged. That is not what we have been told to do for the past 10 or so years. We were told that the semester was a cumulative grade, with the first-quarter grade being the halfway point. We were specifically and repeatedly told at our building not to average the two quarters. One of the things we were to explain to students about the new six-week grades is that it changed nothing except give them earlier notice of how they were doing. I don't know who told you the two quarters were averaged, but obviously our administrators have not been consistent in following procedures.