Letter to the Editor

Jackson facilities are adequate

To the editor:

I read the article "Close defeat for school bond weighs on students" with much disgust for a couple reasons. First, because the Southeast Missourian is in no way printing the stories on the Jackson school bond issue in a unbiased, objective and informative manner, but in a way to persuade voters to their own position reminiscent of Dan Rather with forged documents to discredit President Bush. Second, because who are these kids to tell anyone how to vote? How much are their property taxes? Mark Strickert said, "I think a lot of people were ignorant." I would say Mark is ignorant in what it takes to work for a living, raise a family and pay bills and taxes.

A couple of months ago I went on a tour of Jackson High School and found that, other than the music department, the facilities were adequate. The defeated bond issue would only improve the student's environment, not better their education. The Jackson School Board needs to understand that buildings do not educate children. Teachers educate children. The measure of a school system is not its architecture, but the ability of its teachers and the success of its students. The board needs to get out of the construction business and get back to the business of educating our children with as small expense to the taxpayer as possible. The focus should be in retaining and hiring only the best teachers for our children.

CHRISTOPHER W. FEENEY, Jackson