Parental involvement

IN RESPONSE to the article describing Leopold as Southeast Missouri's top public school, the headline should have read, "Southeast Missouri's top school for parental support." A school cannot force parents to attend conferences any more than it can be responsible for ensuring the attendance of its students. Teaching at Leopold sounds like a dream. As a 10-year veteran of another district, I would love for every parent to attend conferences and take an interest in their children. I would love for my students to show up for class every day and aspire to further their education after high school. However, in reality, few of my students are lucky enough to have parents who take an interest in their child's education at all. I hope this article in its deserving praise of Leopold residents shows other communities that in order for a child or a school to be successful, the support and involvement of parents is a necessity.

Great show

BRAVO TO the Heartland Pops Orchestra and Chorus for the Christmas show! "Jingle Bells" forever.

Wonderful job

TO THE person who commented about the poor music performance at Academic Hall: How dare you speak negatively about something that you have only seen from the outside looking in. To bash the choir and its director (who happens to be a wonderful educator) because the music selection was in a foreign language is absurd. Have some culture. Being an alumnus of the music department at Southeast Missouri State University, I was offended by your comments. I guarantee you that the choir members knew and understood what they were singing about. That's part of the process of studying art. Orchestra and choir: Don't believe the comments of one person represents what the rest of the community thinks. I believe you did a wonderful job, and all the hours of preparation and rehearsal were well spent. Continue your education and expanding your intellect (even if it has to do with foreign language) with pride.

It's the parents

IT DOESN'T take a rocket scientist to figure out why Leopold is Southeast Missouri's top public school. Most of the students come from stable, two-parent homes with parents who value education, have high expectations and respect the teachers and administration. When asked about discipline problems on the Leopold school bus, a driver indicated that few problems occur because all he has to say is that he will call the students' parents.

Taking my money

I AM tired of reading someone bellyaching about why the government doesn't give him something instead of protecting our freedom or why the government doesn't provide me with something else instead of whatever. I wish these people had the capacity to understand that the government doesn't have its own money. It takes money from people like me and all the other people working their fingers to the bone with one or two (like me) jobs and haven't called in sick in 30 years. The government takes thousands of dollars of my money to give to someone drinking a 40-ouncer and smoking cigarettes and watching "Judge Judy" all day.