SPEAKOUT

Problems in Shawnee district

I'D LIKE to comment on one of your front-page articles on the Shawnee School District 84. It failed to mention that our district was in great financial position three years ago, and three years ago we got two new principals in our district and a new superintendent. Would this be coincidental? The district also hired a number of new personnel at all the schools, and now they want to cut band. You can't tell me they're going to save money telling the fifth and sixth grade they can't have band anymore. They don't want to cut sports. I think they need to look a little deeper and check out why is it all of a sudden when they change administrative staff, then the school's losing money. Good question.

Proof he's a Democrat

THIS IS directed to the caller who claims to have voted straight Republican for the past 80 years but will begin to vote straight Democrat because of Newt. Who do you think you're fooling? I'd be willing to bet that you never voted for a Republican in your life, much less the past 80 years which would make your age at least 101. By telling such whoppers, you've proven that you're a Democrat.

Use the ballot box

ADDRESSING THE question of term limits: The number of lawmakers having to retire might be great. What about the pension system? Has that been addressed? That would break any budget for the pensions that would go on and on and on. Why not use the ballot box for the unwanted legislators? Voters seem to be getting knowledgeable about that.

You asked for it

TAX TIME'S upon us, and if you'll be still, you'll hear people complaining about their bill. They moan and they groan and whine and cry because their taxes are so high. Some must be live in a cave or be blind as a bat because they voted Democrat. To these party loyalists who are pitching a fit, all I can say is you asked for it.

Changes at the post office

I WAS down at a post office to mail a letter, and there was no book available with all the ZIP Codes. I also noticed the table that they had for the handicapped has been removed.

Expense is questioned

I WONDER why all hoopla and expense for the new university president. I think the money spent could really put to a better use. After all, he's not the king, and this isn't his coronation. But then again, the university is well-known for throwing money around.

No White History Month

THERE IS a Black History Month. I wonder if there is a White History Month or a Indian History Month. If there isn't, there sure ought to be.

Sharing responsibilities

IS IT wrong for a teacher to go back to college and become more informed or attend seminars to be more informed and pass this knowledge on in their classroom? Bettering ourself is the American dream as I see it. Apparently a disgruntled mother wants more credit. She called Speak Out to bring notice upon herself as being a good mother. She is right, it takes a good mother and a good family to encourage her children while attending school and being out in the community. She must remember, though, that teaching is not a five-day-a-week, 8-to-5 job with three-month summer vacations as she implied. There are many more things to do than to spend time in classrooms trying to calm down disruptive students while trying to educate the rest. It takes parents to be involved with their children and their teachers to get full benefit of their education. It might be described as sharing responsibilities. Educators will never get rich while teaching. They receive their wealth when former students exceed in life and are remembered by them as good influences. I am not a teacher, but I remember a lot of good ones.

A plea for tips

JUST WANTED to say that I work as a waitress at a local restaurant. I was wondering if some people realize that we don't make minimum wage. We are paid $2.13 an hour plus tips, which some of you people are kind enough to leave us. I appreciate that very much. Some of you people come in to eat, you get good service and you demand and you demand and you demand, but you get up from the table and walk out and do not leave not so much as a dime. So next time you go out to eat, stop to think: Have I got good service? Leave the waitress a nice little tip.

High sports salaries

I THINK it is totally ridiculous that basketball and baseball players get paid millions of dollars a year just to play a sport when other people in America are working their butts off for minimum wage.

No preferential treatment

THIS IS in response to John Seabaugh and other opponents of the lake project. You asked who has the right to take your land by eminent domain for a recreation project. You refer to landowner rights and question that a lake is an necessity. Have any of you people ever visited and enjoyed any of our country's national parks? Have any of you visited and enjoyed any of our state parks? Have any of you ever traveled on an interstate highway? Have any of you driven down William Street in Cape Girardeau and enjoyed a wider road with several lanes which allows you to get to your destination quicker? Have any of you read the various Missourian articles regarding Emil Meyer who has seen both his parents home where he was born and his very own home torn down and himself relocated so Lexington Street in Cape could be improved? All of these projects involved taking land by eminent domain. You all seem to think that you are better than other people in this country and this area who have had their property taken from them for various projects. Yes, I do sympathize with you and realize your land is important to you, but I'm tired of you all acting as if you are some type of elitist who be given preferential treatment.