Speak Out B 04/16/03

Other motivation

I HAVE to disagree with the person who said socio-economic status determines success. My mother does not have a high school diploma and brings home under $30,000 a year. Imagine dividing that among nine household members. We weren't exactly rich. Despite this, we all graduated high school and went on to be successful. The factor to look at would be one's determination and motivation to succeed. I didn't have individuals in my family who had ever attended college, let alone take the ACT. However, they did know the value of it and passed that along to me.

A good lesson

CONGRATULATIONS to the administration of Scott City High School and parents, staff and students who support the decision to suspend athletes who drank alcohol at a post-prom party. You have the integrity and courage to enforce reasonable and legal rules, regardless of pressure from people less ethical, consequences to a team's win record or embarrassment. You are serving your students' best interests. They will learn from this.

SEMO's contribution

I GRADUATED from SEMO not too long ago and majored in marketing. I did a project over the course of the semester and found that SEMO students and faculty contribute over $35 million dollars a year to the Cape Girardeau economy. To imply that it is a waste to spend the money on the university is incorrect.

Keeping our promises

THE UNITED States has successfully invaded and occupied Iraq. This does not mean the people are free nor, more importantly, that the invasion was legal or ethical. No one doubted that America could beat up on a beaten down country with few modern weapons. The real question is whether we will make good on the promises of liberation.

Working long hours

CONGRATULATIONS to the recipients of this year's Kinder awards. These teachers give unselfishly and make a difference every day in the lives of our children. I am disturbed, however, by our superintendent's statement about these teachers. He stated that that the awardees are the teachers who arrive at school before sunrise and don't leave until after dark. This remark insinuates two things: That in order to be a great teacher one must give up family life, and that excellence is achieved only by working longer hours. While it is true that great teachers always make personal sacrifices, we must remember that teachers are often also parents and spouses who need to devote some of their time and energy to their families. We must also remember that working longer does not guarantee a better product. If we continue to increase teacher workload through understaffing and reduced preparation time, many of the best teachers will leave because they can no longer do an excellent job. We will be left with those who are willing to do just enough to get by.

It's a fact of life

I AM a graduate of Scott City High School and a mother of children who attend the high school. I want to let the athletes and coach who were suspended from sports activities know that I think they received a punishment that was to harsh. I do not condone underage drinking, but I was a kid once and participated in underage drinking. I know my kids do. It is a fact of life we do not like, but we have to face it and we can control it.

Cultural taboos

IF THE level of cultural awareness and sensitivity training our troops have received regarding Iraqi traditions and taboos allows them to think male checkpoint guards can search female Muslims with impunity, they are in big trouble. This is not the way to end chaos and anarchy, maintain the peace or win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. Males touching females outside marriage is about the cultural equivalent of rape.