SPEAKOUT

Experimental learning

THE EDITORIAL Sept. 7 entitled "College-bound test results are blurred" makes reference to the trend of schools today to inflate grades and to boost students self-esteem, which has replaced knowledge as a primary goal in primary and secondary schools. The editorial is right on the nail. The final paragraph needs wider distribution and repeating. Here it is. "That the scores are cooked, in an effort to show schools really are doing a better job today, reveals the education establishment is bent on further mischief. Instead of defining excellence down while resisting real reforms sprouting up across the nation, it is time schools and education officials own up to the failure of their grand experiment."

Giving both sides

I WOULD like to retract what I said about the Missourian running scared about the Democrats. I don't always agree with some of the stuff the Missourian says, but I cannot say they aren't fair. They print both sides very well. I certainly appreciate it as a reader of the Missourian. We don't always get our comments in Speak Out answered like we think we should. They work it in and do the best they can. I certainly do appreciate it. Sorry if I was hasty to say "running scared." I think the paper prints both sides very candidly.

REPLY: The highest praise a newspaper can receive is for readers to say it is fair. Thanks.

Site for fed building

I WILL tell you where to put this new federal building: The old St. Francis Hospital. It covers a square block. There are maybe three or four houses you would have to buy out. It is close to the interchange at the bridge anyway. That would help out with traffic.

REPLY: Several readers have suggested the old hospital as a good location for the new federal courthouse. However, it is outside the downtown area defined by the General Services Administration.

It's not too far

SO THE Jackson senior citizens will have to travel six or eight blocks farther north to get to the new library. The senior citizen center is six or eight blocks east of the library. They don't seem to have any problems getting there.

Is this justice?

WHERE ARE our laws in this world? I just read where a man got more years in the penitentiary for driving intoxicated than one did for murdering an innocent baby. Where are our laws?

More on parking

I AM the person who called in about complaining about student parking in and around Capaha Park. The reason I did is because I took my two grandchildren to swim. I could not find a parking space and had to walk over two blocks. Yes, I went to college here too. I had to pay $80 or more for parking too. I just don't think it is fair when they have all that parking on North Sprigg street that they have to take up the whole public park where visitors like to go sometimes.

Merger is best

I USE both libraries located in Jackson and find them both satisfactory. I feel this merger is the best thing for everybody involved especially the use of our tax dollars. The location to me is quite natural as we use the park area a lot. It is located in the city limits of Jackson but yet accessible to people north, south, west, and east of the area. I applaud the people who are working to get this measure passed.

Other heat activities

I AM calling regarding the early school dismissal during the heat. Were other extra curricular activities canceled because of the heat? Like football, band practice, etc.

REPLY: In some instances these activities were scheduled for cooler times of the day. In other instances the amount of activity was limited because of the heat.

No heat memories

A CALLER said that, in the midst of all the heat, the memories the children would have would be of dreading to go to school because they knew it was going to be hot, and when it is hot you can't study. As my wife read that she said she didn't remember about anything that. She was in those schools in the late 1930s and 1940s. I realize too that I was there in the 1930s and 1920s. I don't recall dreading school because it was real hot. I studied. Both of us did real well in our education. But today it seems you have to do everything for the students and teachers.

More government money

ANOTHER social program that shouldn't be allowed to start is $71,300 for day-care referral, and that is only the beginning. The city wants money for the control tower. Foreign authorities want tax money. How can you continue to spend non-productive dollars and still balance the budget?

Not in my air

THIS IS an answer to "Smokers' right." You do have a right to smoke, but you have no right to take up my air space. I have emphysema because of second-hand smoke.

Racetrack blues

THIS IS about the Benton race track. The last two Saturday nights we have had a lot of questionable calls at the race track. The fans and the drivers are getting discouraged with them.

Grandparents Day

I WONDER how many other grandparents did not get a call or a card on Grandparents Day. All you young ones better think. You wouldn't be here if it weren't for your grandparents. Show a little respect.

Shortage of homes

THE OTHER day the mayor said there is a shortage of homes in Cape. Someone in the past wasn't thinking about tearing all those streets down on College Street instead of having the trail go west on Highway 74 where practically no homes have been torn down. Now there is a shortage of homes. It will be several years before that bridge will be built. What were they thinking about by tearing all those homes down. Some people thought they had a home to live in for the rest of their lives and they were forced to move. It seems there is too much greed and power going on here instead of thinking what is the best for the people here in Cape.

Voting obligation

I HAVE never voted a straight ticket. Every citizens has an obligation to vote. Every citizen should make an effort to find out as much as they can about the candidates and vote for the person they think best for the office.

Questionable IQ

I MOVED here from a major city in the North to go to SEMO. Reading the Speak Out column, I just get really disgusted with the lack of mentality and intelligence in this area. Like razing the Marquette, for instance, is a really stupid idea. Whining about whether or not kids should have air conditioning in the schools. Why don't we just let our kids get heat stroke and then pay the doctor bills for it? And all this whining about merging the libraries. Hey, have you ever heard of an automobile? It takes you from one place to another, so use it.

Disappointed alum

THIS IS in response to SEMO's first home game. As a graduate of that university, I was embarrassed and ashamed to have tradition taken out of football and the marching Golden Eagles not even wearing their uniforms. This is one alumnus who is not going to go back until that university can respect its past. Stop with the dog-and-pony show and start acting like a university.

Cans tied to dog

I just got finished watching the pet parade at the fair. I saw a dog with tin cans tied on the back of it. Surely, they didn't let it go through like that. I feel sorry for the dog.