SPEAKOUT

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.

These parents are 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 the 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.