Speak Out A 05/27/03

Broadway at CJHS

BROADWAY IS not just a street in Cape anymore. It hit the Central Junior High School auditorium with the production of "The Little Mermaid" directed by Mike Dumey. There must be countless behind-the-scenes people to mention. The show was fabulous. The costumes were top-notch. My own children performed in a spring concert in the gym, and we just happened to go to the auditorium. Wow, were we ever impressed. The talent these young people possess is phenomenal. It is so inspirational to see young people going in such a positive direction with their lives. Congrats and thank you.

Plenty of perks

STILL DOING it. Still threatening to cut education and health programs. What is the travel budget for the governor? What are the other perks in his budget besides travel and entertaining and household help and health insurance? Are we the governor's employers or not?

Response from a chimp?

AS YOU editorialized, monkeys may not write best sellers, but chimpanzees might. Scientists now say that since they share nearly 95 percent of human DNA, they should be included in the genus Homo, with human beings (Homo sapiens). In fact, one often gets the sense that chimps are contributors to Speak Out.

Plenty of support

I AM amazed at all of the whining by Cape Girardeau citizens about the River Campus. I look forward to all of the extra revenue the River Campus will bring to the area in the form of additional spending from new students, tourism and the extra jobs created. If some whiners want to start a petition to stop the River Campus, I would feel compelled to start one in support of the campus. The whiners might just be surprised how many supporters there are.

Costly message

IT WAS very interesting to read that Gov. Bob Holden has the time and money to travel around Missouri and tell voters in person that the budget deficit is $367 million. One would think he could find something more beneficial to do, such as balance the budget. How much does the plane and security cost for such a trip? How is this more important than schools and medical care? Have no fear, Gov. Holden, you will definitely find out how the voters feel about that come the next election.

Commencement noise

I JUST came home from a once-in-a-lifetime event with my only child graduating from Central High School. The ceremony was at the Show Me Center. It was a very nicely planned event with many fine speakers. The thing I could not believe and will never get over is the selfishness and rudeness of people bringing infants and very small children to something as important as this ceremony. Through all the speeches the little ones were bored out of their minds and screamed so much I didn't hear any of the speakers. For future parents, let's make a rule that you have to be at least 10 or 12 years old to enter so as not to ruin the affair for parents, students and speakers.

Money creates jobs

SOMEBODY SAID, "Don't give the rich a tax break, because they will put the money in a bank." And the bank puts the money in a jar and buries it, right? No, the bank takes that money and lends it out for all kinds of things, including construction of new businesses, which creates a lot of jobs in our community. By the way, you cannot give me a tax cut. I didn't pay any taxes and still got the earned-income credit. I am all for the rich guy getting his taxes cut. After all, he's the one paying taxes.

Business as usual

STATE REP. Jason Crowell's lengthy laundry list of largely special-interest legislation passed by the Missouri General Assembly reinforces the perception that business as usual still persists and the general public remains damned.

Compassionate nurse

LAST WEEK I was admitted to St. Francis Medical Center and diagnosed with a very serious disease. There is a nurse who works at St. Francis, Megan, who made me and my family very comfortable until I was transferred to a larger hospital. Keep up the good work, Megan. Your dedication to your job and your compassion are appreciated.

Shorter class periods

I TOO am a Jackson parent concerned about the proposed eight-period day at the middle school. A five-minute reduction in class time is a 10 percent decrease in instructional time.

Spend the surplus

SOME POOR-MOUTHING school superintendents need to be called to task. While blaming the Missouri Legislature for a not providing enough revenue, their schools have piled up huge surpluses of as much as 10 percent or more of the overall budget. These excess funds are supposed to be a rainy-day fund and dipped into when times are tough. Superintendents like to call tapping excess revenue deficit spending, but it's clearly not. If now is not the time to spend some of the surplus in order to maintain quality programs and staff, then when is? Local school leaders should shoot straight with their constituents and quit trying to shift the blame to the state. The money is there.