OpinionSeptember 30, 2007
Speak Out 9/30/07
Early slots; ICE campaign; Nonpartisan plan; Earth's cycle; Smokers' business; Science guy; Bacon and sausage; Daily grades; Unfair to pit bulls; Student viewpoint; Shabby Broadway; Missing Esicar's; In the classroom; Working with mice
Early slots
GERMAN CHILDREN are slotted into college-bound or vo-tech school at age 10. We should follow suit.
ICE campaign
THE ICE (In Case of Emergency) campaign is a simple thing that could save your life or put a loved one's mind at rest. If you are involved in an accident or taken ill, a number in your mobile phone could help you. The person or persons you would like notified in case of an emergency should be entered in your mobile phone book. A paramedic thought this up. God bless him or her. The ICE concept is catching on quickly.
Nonpartisan plan
I WAS ecstatic with Jim Jeffries' endorsement of Missouri's nonpartisan court plan for choosing judges, a model for all states. I was also pleased with his condemnation of those who want to consign it to the dustbin of history by politicizing the nonbiased process.
Earth's cycle
GLOBAL WARMING is a cycle of the earth. It has come before and will come again.
Smokers' business
A RECENT comment said, "Smokers have cost many businesses to put in special ventilation which took from wages and profits." No, the smokers did not cause those expenses. The companies wanted the smokers' business. Those businesses could have decided to not allow smoking. It should be up to them to forbid it, not government interference in private enterprise.
Science guy
I WOULD like to thank our local science guy Jason Lindsey for his work with kids! Jason recently did some experiments at Clippard Elementary School, and that is all my son can talk about. Thank you, Jason.
Bacon and sausage
WHEN I was a kid growing up in Cape Girardeau, my grandparents would come and visit from out of town. They would stop at Esicar's for bacon and sausage before they got to us. Priorities.
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!
Daily grades
JACKSON IMPLEMENTED a computer program several years ago that is designed to allow parents to check student progress on a daily basis. It is called ParentLink. Call the school, fill out a form and you're done. I use it every day and have for several years.
Unfair to pit bulls
PIT BULLS are being persecuted just like the witches of Salem used to be persecuted. Communities are afraid of the dogs because of a few bad owners. I picked up a stray dog that was wandering in and out of traffic. You could see every rib in its body. It was a pit bull, and she is a wonderful pet. You have to be a responsible owner and take commonsense precautions, but this is true of many dogs. People are dumping these poor creatures because communities are banning them and insurance companies won't insure a home that has one. This is so sad and unfair. Make it illegal to breed them if necessary, but don't pick out one breed and make the dogs suffer.
Student viewpoint
I SAW three Southeast Missouri State University students interviewed on TV. They were asked about the visit from the president of Iran to Columbia University and would it be OK with them if he came to SEMO? All three of them said yes, which is horrible considering that the president of Iran would like to annihilate our country and Israel and is responsible for guns and ammunition going into Iraq and helping to kill our servicemen. I can only pray that these three students are not majoring in history, because they don't know their history, and they have no business in politics.
Shabby Broadway
HAVING ONCE lived in Cape Girardeau but not having been here for two years, I was upset to see how forlorn the Broadway area looks with many beautiful buildings in a state of disrepair or boarded up. The worst is the lovely, art deco Esquire Theater, which I hope is going to be restored to its former glory like the Marquette Hotel and Southeast Missourian building. Compliments though to the interesting floodwall murals and the excellent rejuvenation of the downtown area. It's Broadway's time now.
Missing Esicar's
I SURE hate to see Esicar's close. I love their bacon. It was in the open where you could see what you were getting. Not only that, when you asked for a pound of bacon, you got a pound of bacon. You go to the grocery store, it's wrapped up in cardboard. You can't see what it looks like. The shock is all yours when you get home. And how can 12 ounces become so popular in the meat department?
In the classroom
HOW MANY of the adults who are 40 or over knew their colors before entering first grade? We didn't have a kindergarten when I went to school. Last Friday my eighth-grade child got an F on the algebra test. Out of all the algebra classes, the highest score was 78 percent. The test was taken over in class. One of the students was allowed to take it home. The following Monday and Tuesday, the Central Junior High School math teacher viewed the test. This should have been taught before the test, not after. When I went to school, the teachers taught you, and you learned. Most teachers are still this way but, the few who are not are the ones who want to learn. As far as statistics go, I am single, white and poverty level. My child always makes A's and B's. Has anybody ever conducted a survey on the grades of middle- to upper-class students?
Working with mice
I think it is ridiculous that state workers are expected to work in mice-infested offices. Even if one or a few die in the offices, state employees are still expected to keep working and inhaling the stench. I've read mice can carry naturally airborne bacteria and viruses and I'm just curious if it's physically safe to have to work in this environment.
Story Tags
Advertisement
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.
Related
Advertisement
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!
