Speak Out 10/20/03

Saying no to guns

I WOULD like to thank Gov. Bob Holden for the first courageous thing he has done as a governor: saying no to concealed guns.

Suggested cuts

I HAVE a few suggestions for the budget cuts in the Cape Girardeau School District. The new furniture the board office got last year was not necessary. Principals in grade schools have assistants, and I think we can get rid of them, because we don't need so many administrators. It really makes me upset if they cut nickels and dimes and don't cut the ones making the big bucks first.

Confusing MAP tests

I AM an educator, so I see the MAP tests every year. I am not in favor of dumbing them down or eliminating them. I am in favor of making the tests more clear. There are objectives that are vague. When you call state officials, they can't explain what it means. If they can't answer questions about the test, then how can they tell us that kids don't know how to do it? I suggest that, when the MAP tests come next spring, parents should visit schools and ask to see the test for their children's grade levels and see what some of the questions are and how ridiculous they are. Also, ask your teacher to look at the MAP objectives. Some of them are so vague that teachers don't know what is expected.

Remembering Hecht's

I NO longer live in the Cape Girardeau area, but when I return to what I still call home, one of the places I love to visit is Hecht's Store. I was sad to see the story on your Web site that Hecht's will be closing, but how nice it was to read about the history of the store and to see such a wonderful photo of Marty and Tootie. The Hechts will always be tied to my memory of Cape Girardeau.

Speaking English

A RECENT comment put the cart before the horse. Before requiring it of foreigners, we should require that native-born Americans speak English.

Elitist concept

NATHAN GLAZER'S poignant piece pointed out that some students have chosen to escape public schools for the sake of attending nonpublic schools where there is a real opportunity for academic achievement. How awful. What elitist came up with the idea that schools exist for the purpose of promoting academic achievement?

Necessary precautions

I WAS very upset to find out that a young man had been arrested at Central Middle School for claiming he had a gun and then threatening to shoot his classmates. I thought our schools here were safe. They have police on duty at the schools. I guess we need to ask ourselves, "Are our schools really taking the necessary precautions to protect our children?"

Rush to judgment

RUSH LIMBAUGH is a stone thrower whose glass house is shattering. On the drug abuse issue, why give him a fairness clause that he denies others? Limbaugh's way is to rush to judgment regardless of the facts. Now it's his turn to be judged -- and his turn to hope that the judges may be just a little bit liberal.

Too many fights

SCOTT CITY Middle School needs to get a grip on the fighting that seems to be going on. When we send our kids to school, we send them to get an education, not to be bullied. I understand that an occasional fight will break out, but it seems like this is an everyday or every-other-day event. What happened to coaches and teachers supervising our children? Is it too much trouble to be with the kids in the locker room?

It's a free country

I THOUGHT this was a free country. Now that the law was passed so we can carry concealed weapons in Missouri, local officials are trying to put on more and more restrictions. What good is the law going to be if we can't carry our guns wherever we go?

Thanks for checkbook

I WOULD like to say thank you to the jogger and his daughter who found my checkbook. Thanks even more for returning it safely. God bless from a single mom of three. There are still some good citizens in this world.

Doing his best

UNDER THE circumstances, Gov. Bob Holden is great. How can he do too much with a lousy Republican legislature?

THOSE WHO don't want any mention of God anywhere now want it out of our pledge of allegiance. Our country laws were founded on Christian values and law, not Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or any other religion or sect. A few nonbelievers and a few crackpot judges defy our nation and God. Most will not give a tinker's dam as liberals continue to remove God from our country in the name of justice.

Focus on vandalism

THE LAST two weeks there has been lots of vandalism in Jackson. The paper said there were 20 reports of property damage. The Jackson police are asking for help to find who is doing this. All the Jackson police think about is pulling people over at night because they assume everyone is drinking. Maybe the should concentrate more on the vandalism.

Helping the terrorists

THE DISGRACE of the Democratic Party's attack on the president of our country when we are at war makes most real Americans throw up. Can you imagine the thrill and the boost it gives the terrorists?