SPEAKOUT

Revolution?

WHAT'S THIS? In a recent editorial you wrote in reference to public education that "by and large most students receive a satisfactory education and either go on to college or enter the workforce." Your only reservation seemed to be that those less willing or able to continue their education beyond high school need to be better served. Has there been a left-wing coup in the editorial office of the Southeast Missourian? Has some bleeding-heart liberal taken control? If so, Kinder, Eastlick and company had better head for the hinterlands lest their collective heads roll. The revolution has apparently changed direction!

REPLY: Sorry, no coup has taken place. The editorial simply reflects the fact that most teachers, left to their own devices, manage to help many students get a decent education. This doesn't offset the fact that too many students still go through the public education system without picking up even the basics. The problem with American education isn't what teachers are doing day in and day out. The problem is with the never-ending reform movement that continues to make it more and more difficult for teachers to do what they do best: teach.

Thanks, neighbors

I WANT to thank my good neighbors who cleared my sidewalk on the corner of Boulevard and Luce. There definitely are some good people in this world.

Liar and thief

I WANT to comment about the person who used to be a Republican but is now a Democrat. I used to be a straight Democrat. Now I'm a Republican. Here's what I've got to say. You said you'd rather have a liar around you than a thief. Looks like with Clinton you've got both of them, if you read about Whitewatergate, what all they did and now they can't remember anything. If you really support Clinton all that much, why don't you just go over to Yugoslavia and volunteer to go in and fight. Then you can really support your friend. Don't tell me you support Clinton until I see you in front of the tanks walking through the mine fields. Anybody who won't go fight himself but will send another man's son is nothing but a chicken hawk.

Winter blessing

PEOPLE IN this part of the country don't have any idea how blessed they are when it comes to winter storms. I think we are all just a little overtired of hearing weather forecasters use terms like bitter and brutal, throwing them about as if they didn't mean anything. If you will look to the north, west and especially the east of us, you will see that this is nothing approaching bitter and brutal. We drive fine in this type of weather because we were raised up north. However, it's a little difficult to manage to get out because we're scared of other people banging into each other like they are in the funny papers. So, people, watch your speed, don't do anything stupid, don't get out unless you have to. Let's everybody try and be a little more courteous and a little more careful with what we say about the weather. This is not brutal, and this is not bitter. If you want bitter, you move to Chicago. That's bitter.

Mother's love

A WOMAN will shed her tears for the man, the husband, the lover she lost. The mother will shed her tears for the son that she lost. The difference is the woman will go out and find another man. The mother will never find another son to replace the one she had. There is no other love like a mother's love.

Snowy assistance

AS I was sitting in my car, which was stuck in a snow-covered ditch on Route W, I had an opportunity to meet some very gracious individuals. I want to thank all those people who stopped who offered assistance to me and my children, especially the gentleman who offered his car phone to us to call a tow truck. Once again, thank you to all who offered assistance to us.

Good sports

I WANT to thank David Ross and the Show Me Center for the fine indoor soccer tournament this weekend. We had a great time. I also want to comment on the Saturday afternoon game. Our team played the Cape Cobra White team. They were clearly well-coached, and they could have beaten by almost any score. The coach was more intent on the boys having a good time and being good sports. At the end of the game, the parents showed a lot of class too. I think that's what sports should be about. Thank you and good luck to the coach.

Need team info

AS A subscriber to your newspaper and a person who shows a lot of interest in the basketball programs in this town and in this community, we appreciate your commentary on the new Tiger Shootout at Central High School. It's an interesting format. It's bringing in some exciting teams to watch, and it's good for the area. One strong suggestion that I think your paper may want to look at is all of these unnecessary quotations from the Central athletic director about his major concerns of this tournament. There are a lot of other teams participating and a lot of other information we'd like to know about some of these other teams.

Picture this...

AN ULTIMATE solution to the new license plate controversy, as I see it, would be for Rush Limbaugh to be driving a covered wagon pulled by Missouri mules through the Gateway Arch with a bluebird sitting in a dogwood tree in the background.

Here's one vote

THAD BULLOCK is one of the most outgoing and positive candidates I have ever seen for political office. Good luck, Thad. I'm always glad to see you run. You make a great race.