OpinionNovember 3, 1999
SPEAKOUT
LET'S TALK about road rage. I just noticed some. I was at restaurant going through the drive-through and this woman behind me was making nasty comments and loud enough for everybody to hear about me and my van. If she does that to the wrong person and experiences road rage like I've seen road rage before, she might not be so lucky the next time. ...
Possible consequences of road rage
LET'S TALK about road rage. I just noticed some. I was at restaurant going through the drive-through and this woman behind me was making nasty comments and loud enough for everybody to hear about me and my van. If she does that to the wrong person and experiences road rage like I've seen road rage before, she might not be so lucky the next time. Luckily, I have enough maturity and sense about myself not to act like that out in public. Obviously she doesn't, and one of these days she's going to cross the wrong person and it will just be too bad. So she needs to watch what she says, because there's a lot of people around here who carry guns in their cars. I witnessed some road rage about two months ago. These two guys were physically fighting. So she needs to be aware of keeping her mouth shut when she's driving a vehicle.
Cape's still the best, so there
SO MISS I Teach 15 Miles From Cape thinks Cape teachers are spoiled with two prep periods. Mr. Charter Schools thinks the Cape public schools need competition, and Mr. or Miss Jackson Person thinks the Cape Central band appears snooty and holier than thou. Here are some answers for you. If the Central band appears snooty, it's because they are a highly disciplined group and some of the finest and hardest working young people in our state and not because of Central's money and influence. Mr. Jackson Person apparently wouldn't know the difference and should respect these young people for what they do even if they are from Cape. Cape Central High School has the finest competing marching band in Southeast Missouri. They have the highest average ACT scores in Southeast Missouri, and they have more National Merit Scholars than Jackson, Notre Dame, Scott City, Delta and Oak Ridge combined. If Cape teachers are spoiled by having two prep periods, they still have out-taught and out-competed any other school from 15 miles around here.
Support for Kinder's charter-school efforts
I'M PROUD of Peter Kinder for saving school choice in St. Louis. Hey, Peter's got some guts. He's going to say the things that need to be said. And to come up with the idea that SEMO University sponsor charter schools in St. Louis now, that's a good idea. It would give SEMO more prestige and the students in St. Louis more choices. Way to go, Peter.
Program was both fun and educational
I'M CALLING in response to the caller who commented about the "Go for It" program at the Show Me Center. I attended the program and watched the fun that the children had. I thought the program was educational. I don't understand why people don't believe we can still have enjoyment in our schools. If we take the fun out of our schools, we'll take the motivation out of our children.
Impatient motorist is a rude punk
THIS IS for the driver of the pickup truck on Perryville Road's four-way stop. Just because I was out in the intersection before you went is no reason to try and hit me and blow your horn. There are names for boys like you: rude punks.
Keep them in the classroom all the time
I'M CALLING In response to the person who called in about the recent Healthsouth "Go for It" road show. I absolutely agree with the caller that there is indeed only one way for our children to learn, which is sitting in a classroom with a teacher and blackboard. In fact, we should take this a step further and take away all field trips including trips to art museums and historical sites. Our children cannot obviously learn from field trips because it takes them out of the classroom. In fact, why not totally eliminate all extra-curricular activities? They only take children away from their studies. The road show might have had good intentions. However, these lessons should be taught only in our school.
Working students can't count money
I'M A local restaurant manager, and I have a problem. I think all the managers in this town share the same problem because I've spoke to several of them. But the problem is we hire high school students, usually from the Cape and Jackson school districts, and our high school students cannot count money. This is a huge problem because it leads me to wonder if our high school teachers are having special programs or are they doing anything or even aware of the situation. So I'm challenging all high school math teachers and junior high math teachers to help in this problem. We have students who are in the real world who cannot count money. That can be a big problem. So, teachers, help.
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These parents proud of public schools
I'M TIRED of hearing and reading of certain people harp about public schools doing a poor job. It's difficult for some parents to accept the fact that they aren't home enough to supervise their kids and see that homework is done or that their kids hang out till all hours of the night. Or that their kids just don't have the ability or ambition to get decent grades. It's so much easier to blame the schools, given the fact that students can be too tired at school or have a poor attitude toward learning or have a low ability. I think our schools should be commended for what they accomplish. My wife and I and our children are proud of public schools. So I take offense at people constantly harping about them. Also, I think certain politicians should back off in their constant criticism of our public schools.
Conservation Department favors other areas
THERE'S NO reason to feel bad about criticizing the Missouri Department of Conservation. Apparently it doesn't have any strong feelings about Southeast Missouri. The Conservation Department opens all sorts of wetland and wildlife areas throughout other parts of the state when the hunting pressure during waterfowl season in Southeast Missouri is considerably more than elsewhere. As far as the management goes at Duck Creek, well, that says enough in itself.
Leave religious education to the parents
WHAT IS it with people wanting to post the Ten Commandments in schools? I don't understand why they would want to do that. That should be the responsibility of families to teach their children whatever religious beliefs they want their children to have. And then if those children wish to go to school and witness to other kids who aren't getting that sort of religious training at home, that should be OK. But for the state to post the Ten Commandments in the schools is taking on the role of the parent, and only parents can do parenting.
Connected by sanctity of life
IN THE newspaper, Bishop Leibrecht says euthanasia, doctor-assisted suicide, capital punishment and abortion are all connected. They're all connected by the sanctity of life. We should remember that life is a gift from God. It's a holy gift, and we must do everything we can to preserve it.
Medicare should cover chiropractors too
I LIVE in Illinois and have a doctor in Missouri. My chiropractor ordered some tests for me to have done, some X-rays and an MRI. But then Medicare wouldn't pay for it because it was ordered from a chiropractor. Well, it really doesn't make any difference. If you need it, you need it, it doesn't make any difference who orders it, because they're not the ones who read X-rays or run the labs. It's pathologists and radiologists. They're the ones who read this and then send the report back to your doctor or whoever ordered it. In Illinois, people have been writing their congressmen and senators, and now your chiropractor can be your primary-care doctor. Missouri needs to do this. You need to write your congressmen and your senators, because this is not right. If Medicare pays for one, it should pay for all of them.
Six words for the vice president
I READ in the paper that Vice President Al Gore, during a debate in Hanover, N.H., admitted that he shared the public's disappointment and anger during the Monica Lewinsky controversy. In that regard, I have six words for Gore: Too little, too late, nice try.
Thanks for putting on Women's Show
I JUST want to thank KFVS and Schnuck's for putting on the Women's Show last. That was fun. It's very entertaining and, most of all, everybody can go. Even my husband went. I do appreciate it, and I've attended every year that they had and am looking forward to next year.
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