SPEAKOUT

Explore the options

REGARDING JACKSON schools: Probably not a person on either side of the issue of a tax increase for the schools doubt that the junior high needs some immediate help. But how about using some ingenuity and common sense to alleviate the symptoms while the power brokers duke it out? Two difficult things the administration could do to give kids immediate help at the junior high: block classes. This requires half the class changes and reduces stress in the halls because classes do not change but about half the number of times. It requires a little effort, but the kids would win. It's a no-brainer. Teachers wouldn't like it, but why are they there? Not all stones have been turned over. If the administration is serious about helping the crowded conditions, maybe there are a couple of other tough options. For example, a dual school day with two sessions at secondary. Imagine all the space you would save. Another is year-around school. Give the taxpayers some real options. The last two options would decrease the number of buses needed. Both would save tax dollars. Do taxpayers want to support more buses and buildings, or go to extended days and get by on the current tax base? These options need to be explored.

Democrat history

I'M CALLING from Southeast Missouri State University, and I just read in Speak Out about the history lesson that George W. Bush needs. I don't know if this was a typo or what, but it states that the Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln is the Democratic Party. Whatever that means, the Republicans came from the Whigs. The Whigs didn't become the Democrats or whatever the caller was trying to say. So the Democrats have nothing to do with Abraham Lincoln or George Bush.

Can't find work

WHEN MY wife and I moved here from Poplar Bluff, I made the mistake of assuming that jobs would not be hard to find, considering that I have an associate's degree and one year of health-care work experience, and my wife has three years of clinical-lab experience. After two years and over 40 resumes sent, we have been called to a combined grand total of one interview and rejected at that one. This is ridiculous, with all the fuss about the need for employees in the health-care profession. I know of two dependable employees who are unemployed and in debt because they can't find work.

Weekend demo derby

IN REGARD to the SEMO District Fair's demo derby that they had on Monday this year. They really ought to consider holding it on the weekend, like on a Friday or Saturday night where school kids wouldn't have to stay up late and miss school the next day. They would have more entries into the derby. They were turning cars away left and right this year. That wasn't fair to the people wanting to enter. They should consider getting new sponsors and moving the derby to the end of the week so everyone can enjoy it.

A great team

WHAT A glorious first lady Laura Bush will be. She will bring in dignity and respect and down-to-earth goodness and reality to represent America to the world. She and her loving husband George W. Bush will be the greatest team that has ever been presented to the American people. They will bring honesty, integrity and decency back to the White House and presidency.

Poor example

I THINK it's so downright dirty, these negative political ads. What in the world is wrong with these adults? No wonder the children are like they are today. It doesn't make sense to me. Political ads should be respectful, not full of lies.

Now it's a ploy

I'VE BEEN reading the papers and watching C-SPAN about Al Gore trying to get some of the oil reserves turned loose to try to get the prices down. It hasn't been more than a month and a half ago that Trent Lott stuck his face up on national TV and said Clinton needed to turn loose some of the oil reserves so they could drive the price of gas down. Now the whole Republican bunch of thieves and rogues are calling Gore's actions an election-year ploy.