Preparing scholars

CAPE GIRARDEAU schools could put out National Merit Scholars. We have plenty of doctors, lawyers, college professors and Speak Out readers here in Cape Girardeau. We have a lot of genetic knowledge. What we need here is knowledge from our students. They need to learn the things they're tested on the SAT exam like English, math and science. If all our students learned English, math and science, we'd have more National Merit Scholars.

Penalties too high

I THINK the penalties are a little high for the man who was impersonating a Navy SEAL. The Navy should be glad that anyone wants to impersonate it or any other armed forces. $350,000 is ridiculous, plus years in prison, especially when we see the Navy SEAL who recklessly threw his life away for a Vin Diesel movie. I would think if you were a Navy SEAL you would aspire to be something more than a stunt man for these ridiculous movies now being made. To toss your life away so needlessly doesn't speak well of those who have such good training.

Highways, real heroes

WHY DON'T we name one of our interstates after World War I, another after World War II, one after the Korean War, one after the Vietnam War and one after the Gulf War. The public seems to be so ignorant of what a real hero is.

Two good columns

I WOULD like to congratulate David Limbaugh on two fine columns about education. One was about the NEA. I would like to see the teachers who are members of the NEA respond and tell us why they are members and whether they understand what the NEA stands for. I would also like to congratulate Limbaugh on a fine column on home schooling. I can't understand why any Christian would enroll his child in a public school where they're taught evolution, homosexuality, pornography and anti-Americanism.

Charter fairness

A RECENT article had a headline that said "Study: Charter school students score lower than peers." Peter Kinder seems to be always pushing for school choice and stuff like that. Read this article to him. The headline ought to be enough for him. Surely he should mention this in his own column to be fair to public schools.

Grass in the street

MY NEIGHBOR mowed his yard. He waited kind of a long time, so the grass was about 18 inches tall. When he mowed, he blew the grass into the street, into my yard and into the neighbor's yard. Whenever they do it like this, it makes the whole neighborhood look like we are trash people. I have not lived here long. I do not know if it is legal to blow grass out into the street.

Tall Johnson grass

THIS IS regarding Route OO. I know the highway department is busy, but we have Johnson grass growing down here that's about 10 feet tall, and you can't see to turn onto the highway or off of it. They need to get down there and mow some of the grass.

Unfinished work

MY SON is a student at the new junior high building. My understanding was that all the work would be done and all the air conditioning would be in place before school started. That was the whole point of starting late. Some of the classrooms at the new junior high are not air-conditioned. They're having to adjust and have class in other places. When is this district going to start living up to its promises? The road is not finished. They didn't stay on top of that with the city. The air conditioning is not complete. We were told that would be done. What else isn't being done?

Scheduling conflict

I HAVE a problem with school events being scheduled on the same night. I have a kid at the elementary and another at the middle school. They are both having open house on the same night. I think things need to separated a little bit so parents can go to both child's things.

Courtesy, and flowers

I WANT to give a special thank you to all the parents of the Jackson School District who drive their kids to school. I'm one of those parents, and I can't remember when I've seen such courtesy and patience from the Jackson parents as we all try and negotiate those narrow streets. Also, does anybody know what that pretty yellow flower is in the median between Center Junction and Highway K? It goes right along the edge. I was wondering if anybody knew what it was.

Use the school buses

IF THE parents would make the kids go to school on a bus, which is paid for by taxes, there would not be so much traffic at the new high school. Parents think they have to pick up their kids and take their kids to school. I know there are times when parents need to pick up a kid for one thing or another, but for the most part I think the parents are just picking up the kids because the kids want to be picked up.

Big trucks with seats

I HAVE a novel solution to the traffic problem at Central High School. Let's buy big trucks, put seats on the beds of them, enclose them in and paint them yellow. The kids could all ride those to school, and maybe that would solve the big traffic jam. And the taxpayers wouldn't have to build parking lots and five-lane highways to the high school.

Probably won't vote

BUDDYPARRISH wrote a powerful piece, published the other day. In his letter, Parrish wanted to make a public statement to the effect that he would not vote for any candidate for office who doesn't openly and vigorously condemn violations of laws and ethics made by people in the private or public sector. Based on that, I think it is safe to say that Parrish will not be voting.

I DON'T live in Cape, but I do shop and eat at the restaurants, so I guess I contribute to the tax on the restaurants. I don't know about the River Campus, but I do think Cape is letting one of the most beautiful spots for a river park be bypassed. There's a beautiful new bridge, a river view of the great Mississippi and a spot to stop and relax and a place to bring your family. Don't let it be a place of ruin and decay and just old buildings. Cape, do something.

Go ahead and pay

JUSTBECAUSE you are handicapped doesn't mean you shouldn't have to pay for parking or admission at the fair. Quit whining and shell out the admission and parking and attend, or stay at home. We all have to pay these fees, which are a little excessive. Yes, it does reduce the amount we spend on food and drink.

A dose of reality

IFDON Dickerson, John Mehner, Ken Dobbins and Jay Knudtson think 87,000 people a year will visit the River Campus, I have some land in the Everglades I would like to sell. They can't even get 87,000 a year to watch SEMO football games. What makes them think they are going to get 87,000 to watch plays and musicals? That would mean there would have to be events. As everyone knows by SEMO's established record at the Show Me Center that holds one major public event every six months, there is no way they will ever achieve that amount of local or regional participation.