Speak Out A 09/22/02

School needs stoplight

JUST TO add to the conversation about the road going to Notre Dame Regional High School: I'm glad someone else feels the same way I do. It's just almost a death trap. The teenagers are driving crazy. There should be a light in front of both schools.

Stepparents at school

I AM a stepfather with two stepchildren and one of my own. I am very appalled at the way schools treat stepparents. We are able to raise these children, live with these children and provide for these children, but when it comes to the school system, I'm treated like I am a nobody. I am very mad about this. We have a right to know what's going on with our children. But when school officials find out we're stepparents, all of a sudden we're categorized as a bad person. I refuse to be put in that category.

Burning the fields

IT'S A hot and very dry day, and farmers are burning their fields. Most of them light the field and leave with no regard for other people's property. Farmers should not be allowed to do this. There are a lot of people with health problems who have to breathe this smoke. Burning the fields is not necessary. Something's got to be done.

Sparse attendance

I AGREE with "Fair gauge of the arts." We should ask SEMO to print the attendance records of the Rose Theatre plays and various concerts held on campus. The ones I've gone to were sparsely attended.

Stick to teaching

I AM 40-plus years old. When I went to school, teachers taught. We didn't have a learning center person, a cross-categorical person (whatever that is), floor-care professionals, a speech-language person, a hearing impaired person, a reading recovery person, a nurse, a counselor and a psychiatric examiner. Teachers need to start teaching again.

Twisted logic

IN OPPOSING the minimum-wage law, a recent caller indicated that any worker who would expect a wage that would enable him to live at a minimal level was asking for a free ride or something for nothing. What kind of twisted logic allows one to reach such a conclusion?

Zero tolerance on DWIs

I HOPE the police are going for zero tolerance on DWIs. I've got a 16-year-old child out driving. I don't want him hit by some drunk driver. I don't want a child in my city to be walking down a sidewalk and to be hit by a drunk driver. I don't want my mother who's 62 years old to be hit by a drunk driver. I believe in zero tolerance. That's why the law states that you're not supposed to drink and drive. My husband and I have a great time many evenings and never touch a drop of alcohol. We have a fantastic time with our friends, and they don't always drink either.

Good-looking band

THE REASON the Central High School band members were not dressed in their uniforms for the SEMO District Fair parade is because they had just received new ones that had to be altered. To make up for that, the entire band dressed alike in khaki shorts, band T-shirts and white shoes so they looked nice in spite of the lack of uniforms.

Remember the artist

PLEASE BE sure to letter the name of the originating floodwall mural artist (Fred Lincoln, formerly from Cape Girardeau and a member of the 1961 graduating class of Central High School) when the artists touch up the mural that he designed. At some time, his name was removed. He certainly deserves credit for his winning artistic expression and memories of his hometown.

Mural suggestions

I LOVE the floodwall murals on the land side but haven't seen the one on the river side. I'm glad to have them, but if you've ever seen the murals in Paducah, Ky., you'll agree there is no comparison as far as art and beauty go. I have no opinion on changing what has been done, but for future work I would prefer color and more detailed artwork.

Student drivers

LOWERING THE speed limit to 15 mph by Notre Dame Regional High School isn't the answer. It would be more dangerous to have people slamming on the brakes to slow down so they could avoid getting a ticket from Cape Girardeau's finest. Students should look both ways before they pull out of the school. If there is no car coming, it is safe to pull into traffic. Otherwise they have to wait.

Peaceful religion

ISLAM IS a peaceful religion. Although some people who are Muslims are violent, the religion itself is not. Some Catholic priests molest young boys, but this does not make all Catholics child molesters.