Speak Out A 12/05/02

Teacher pay, MAP tests

I'M AN educator, and I want to respond to two letters to the editor. Someone said he was a teacher with 22 years experience and only making $22,000. I wish that person would call back in and state what district he's in, because that doesn't fit with the salary schedule of any district in this immediate area. I've been teaching 11 years and have my master's. I'm making $33,000. If I didn't have my master's, I'd be making $29,000. The other thing I wanted to comment on was the student who wrote about MAP testing. This student has been told a bunch of bull or doesn't know what she's talking about. She says the tests are a requirement for graduation. They are not. No school district can keep you from graduating just because you haven't taken these tests. Neither is passing them a requirement. Teachers may use part of the tests as part of their grading, but they cannot use them as criteria for either passing or for graduation. She also said that many colleges use MAP scores. They don't. I don't know where this student is getting her information, but it sounds like she's getting it from an overzealous administrator who is trying to justify the MAP tests.

Disappointing lights

I'M VERY disappointed. On the night before Thanksgiving we saw the lights being turned on at County Park North, which was just tremendous. It is beautiful. I recommend everybody go out and take a look at this, because there's been a lot of work been put into it. Then we drove to see the Christmas lights in downtown Cape Girardeau and were so disappointed. We counted probably 20 strands of lights that were not working. Of the ones that are working, half the light bulbs are out. I would just as soon somebody turn all the lights off in downtown Cape Girardeau until after Christmas.

All in the head

I'M CALLING about the comment about cigarettes being addictive and that nicotine is just as bad as heroin. This is a misstatement. I smoked for approximately 30 years. During the latter part of that time, I burned up to three packs a day. There were no withdrawal symptoms when I quit and I quit cold turkey. That's the only way you can quit. It's all in the head. It's not in the body parts being effected by nicotine.

Think first

I AM so glad to see people have feelings against the threat of going to war with Iraq. I was one of the many young married couples during World War II. I know the feelings of fear that your loved ones will end up being one of the unlucky victims. I hope today everyone is thinking about our young men and the possibility of how many will be coming back in body bags. It will bankrupt our economy. I think before jumping on Bush's bandwagon, you need to think.

Bell pollution

I SYMPATHIZE with the people who call in about the noise pollution: loud mufflers, scooters, leaf blowers. But there's another source, and that is the bells at the university. That's noise pollution too because they're spreading it a long way with their recorded bells. They need to stop. The ringing of the hours is wonderful, but these songs have got to stop.

On-the-job boost

ONE OF the biggest reasons people don't stay on their jobs in this town is that the employers don't pay employees enough money to make a living and they have to work at two or three jobs to get by. Employers should go by once in a while and tell somebody, "Gee, I appreciate what you're doing here, you're doing a good job." Just give a smile and say good morning. A little pat on the back once in a while goes a long way.

Private enterprise

TO THE people who support an aquatic center to be financed by the city and a housing development that wants taxpayers to pick up part of the bill: I wonder whatever happened to private enterprise? I thought that was supposed to be the thing that America great, not the government doing everything.

Inmate monitors

THERE WERE two Speak Out comments I believe could solve a lot of problems. One was about how Alabama uses prisoners to keep roadsides clean. The other suggested monitors for school buses. Why don't we put non-violent prisoners from the Cape Girardeau County Jail on school buses as monitors?

County road problems

IN REFERENCE to bad roads freezing and thawing in rainy weather: Try driving County Road 346. It's like hog-pen alley. It's a shame. If the county spent the dollars on a good finish instead of grading and graveling and then turning around and graveling and grading again, it would be better and cheaper on all concerned.

Not a pay cut

PRESIDENT BUSH did not cut federal wages. When federal employees don't get the raise they expected, they don't consider it a cut in pay. My husband didn't get a raise this year, but he doesn't say his pay was cut. I think your headline was very misleading.