READERS OFFER MORE IDEAS ABOUT SCHOOL ISSUE

In the aftermath of the Oct. 5 election failure of a school improvements package for Cape Girardeau, the second time such an issue has failed, the Southeast Missourian published a clip-and-mail coupon seeking comments on the negative outcome.

Several dozen people repsonded to our request. What follows are comments offered concerning the questions posed. Many used the coupon as an opporunity to write longer, more detailed explanations for their votes.

We welcome other letters concerning this subject.

The local public school system has the same problem our federal government has. It's called credibility.

Too much bloated budget: too many at the top, principals, assistant principals, athletic director, coaches, coaches, coaches ... how many do we have? White is more important, a young man's ability to play football or the young man's grades? One school board member has it right when he says we, the people, don't trust the board. He wonder why.

Tie in the middle school with the last bond vote hoping they could fool us into voting the package so as not to lose state funds. Lie to us as to why a high school teacher was fired, telling us it had nothing to do with hiring new coaches.

Wake up, school board, the problem is credibility.

For what reasons did we vote against the Cape Girardeau school issue?

1. We don't need a middle school.

2. The schools we have now are in need of repair. For instance, a walk around Alma Schrader: The frames around the windows are rusting, concrete needs to be replaced or repaired. Why build more when you aren't taking care of what we have?

3. Why burden the taxpayers with the extra expense of a special election? The school board's reasoning doesn't make common sense. How much did the Oct. 5 election cost? This need to be made public knowledge.

4. Billed as the largest tax increase in history, the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993 is now law. Therefore, all of us will be affected by this. Not knowing where we stand on the taxes, why should we take on more voting for the school issue.

I'm sorry, but my vote will be "no" in the coming elections.

Reasons for voting against the Cape Girardeau school issue:

1. We often wondered what would happen if all the children in parochial schools appeared at the public schools for admittance one day. How in the world would the public schools exist then?

2. When we moved here in 1964, I called to asked if our children (who were enrolled in parochial schools) could be transported on the public school bus and I was told, "Definitely not." Public schools in Pennsylvania and Ohio and other states were transporting parochial school students for several years.

3. Some of the parochial schools in town are older than some public schools and it does not seem to affect the way the students are taught.

4. Teachers are paid much more than teachers in parochial schools.

5. We do not approve of the curriculum in public schools.

6. Wasting tax money on things such as building a smoking pen for children (encouraging them) to smoke.

7. All schools spend too much money on sports, when only about 20 percent of the children can take part in them.

8. Do you realize that even though parochial school children are permitted special education teaching now, the motor classrooms can not even be parked on school property. They must be parked in an alley.