Speak Out 5/10/06

Teen hangouts

AS SOMEONE who was a teenager back in the days of successful Teen Centers, I'd like to say Teen Centers are needed. However, as a parent of former teens, I have seen the trend. Most teens are not accustomed to adult supervision, nor would they hang out in a place where there are adults. A Teen Center without that supervision would simply be another place for teens to congregate and get into trouble.

Lack of respect

LAST WEEK I was in a checkout line. A young woman pushing a large cart of groceries got in the checkout line next to mine behind a middle-aged woman who seemed to be holding nothing. When the middle-aged woman got her turn at the checkout, she called out to someone a few lines down. From this line came a middle-aged man pushing a huge cart. He said: "Pardon me, little lady. I need in front of you." The young woman looked defeated and pulled her cart out of the line. She had fallen victim to one the oldest bullying techniques perpetrated by selfish people who should know better. If you wonder why we have big problems with ethics and morality in this country, your answer lies with these small, almost insignificant problems. We have lost respect for ourselves and each other.

To the rescue

MANY THANKS to Steve Hendrix and Chris Gerrka for helping my Aunt Zita last weekend in Commerce. Her car got stuck on a cement parking lot post, and she was unable to drive the car forward or backward. The two men lifted the back end of the car over the post. I know now that she'll be a much more careful driver.

More of the same

IT SEEMS to me that Cape Girardeau School District administrators base their decisions on whim or emotion instead of good business sense. Everyone was hoping for a change, but obviously everything is business as usual.

Getting the facts

RUDI KELLER did a great job at gathering his facts for the article that he wrote about state Rep. Nathan Cooper's campaign finances. He should be applauded for his journalistic capabilities, and I would like to see more on the Cooper issue. I have been reading about it on blogs, but I know that I got the facts when I read it in the Missourian.

When life begins

THE ARGUMENT that life begins at conception is not founded in biology but ideological ignorance. To argue that life begins at conception, you have to argue that egg and sperm are not living. Could anything be more ridiculous and unscientific?

Mother's honesty

I COULD relate to the mother of Baby Jonathan, who had extreme acid reflux disease as a newborn. My daughter, who also suffered a heart defect at birth, has such terrible GERD that she sleep upright at the foot of my bed for the first six months of her life. She woke every 45 minutes or so with inconsolable screaming. I know many people will comment about this mother and the use of formula. I nursed my child, and she still suffered, as did our family. I respect this mother's honest communication of her feelings. I didn't enjoy my baby during that time. The frustration, lack of sleep. Helplessness and constant screaming take a toll on the family and, most importantly, on your baby's happiness. Please be empathetic to those of us who go through this. We appreciate our miracle gifts, but not everything they come with.

Ask the teachers

FOR THE person who wants earlier notification about a student's low grades: Perhaps it would help to ask them about their homework, ask to see test papers and try to attend parent-teacher conferences. My children are grown, but in all levels of school there were parent-teacher conferences offered. Teachers will do their best to work with you to find a time to meet with you, especially if your child is having trouble. If your child never brings home any test papers or homework, you should contact the teacher. If your child doesn't make it home with the information regarding conferences, call the school.

Not his fault

IT SEEMS to me that every time Iran yells about destroying Israel the price of oil jumps up, and our gasoline price to follow. Is that the fault of President Bush? For some people, the president can do nothing right and is the perfect target for sounds like partisan remarks to me.

Taking a stand

WHAT'S THE difference between mismanagement and micromanagement? Charlie Bertrand has my vote for as long as he'll run. It's about time we have someone on the Cape Girardeau School Board who isn't afraid to stand up for what's right.

Inflicting piety

HERE'S A dead-on quote from one of my favorite Internet magazines: " Americans have long been driven by two deep longings. The first is to be left alone. The second is to tell other people what to do. On most moral issues -- abortion, video games, alcohol, tobacco, guns -- the easiest way is to inflict our piety on minors. All the righteous satisfaction. None of the backlash. Great taste. Less filling."

One-party voting

IN RESPONSE to the story "Missouri legislature may eliminate straight-ticket voting option": No doubt thinking about each choice when voting would be a hardship on many average voters, if the straight-party voting were eliminated. It's a shame the Bollinger County clerk cannot see any benefit to it, and it's a shame if the Scott County clerk is right that it might reduce turnout and make voters mad. Voters could still mindlessly vote exclusively for all the candidates in their party, regardless of their qualifications.

Abusing ex parte

IN RESPONSE to the story "Legal experts would like to stem misuse of ex parte orders of protection": I agree that ex parte orders are being misused. My son is in a visitation battle with the mother of his children who uses the ex parte system to manipulate his rights as a parent. I do not understand how such a protective law can be used in such an abusive way. In most courts it is allowed to go on.

Revealing the truth

CHARLES BERTRAND seems to be the only member on the Cape Girardeau School Board unwilling to be reduced to a rubber-stamp puppet and make the real truth about what goes on in the school system accessible to an ever more skeptical public.

Useless walkway

THE UGLY, rusty walkway crossing Route 74 just west of Sprigg Street was the biggest waste of money I have seen next to the ever-changing roundabout. No one uses the walkway. Instead, pedestrians cross at the intersection of 74 and Sprigg at the stoplight. It would have been more useful if the walkway crossed Interstate 55 between Sears and Texas Roadhouse, or crossed William Street near Saint Francis Medical Center and the mall. I see pedestrians trying to cross in these spots all the time. I wonder who's bright idea it was to put a walkway in such a stupid spot.

School scheduling

WHY IN the world is the Cape Girardeau School District starting classes on Aug. 14 this year? I would rather the kids stay in school until Memorial Day weekend rather than go back to school when it is still in the 100s outside. Whatever happened to Memorial Day to Labor Day for summer vacation? Every year the district creeps the date up another week. How much does that extra air conditioning cost the district during the hottest month?

Don't back down

CHARLIE BERTRAND is a breath of fresh air on the Cape Girardeau School Board. He's honest and hard-working, a man of integrity who doesn't rubber stamp things of importance because everyone else on the board is doing it. He knows what it takes to run a school district. I applaud his efforts and hope he doesn't back down.

Clueless at the top

THE CAPE Girardeau School District administrative office is once again expanding, and huge raises are being given to administrators while teachers will receive less than 2 percent. Nothing has changed with our new administration. Morale continues to plummet among the staff, which continues to move to other districts. Those in charge don't have a clue.

Responsible teaching

TEACHER DONNA Shell's diatribe concerning the controversy over Southeast Missouri State University's "Romeo and Juliet" performance was, ironically, not what the headline led one to believe. The headline, "Educators have responsibility to decide what's best for students" was not to be what Shell wrote. In fact, Shell's view was just the opposite. She said teachers have a responsibility to regurgitate what the school district wants. That should not be the goal of a teacher. If anything, a good teacher should challenge student socio-cultural beliefs, not to necessarily change them, but for the purpose of promoting student thought and debate. Had Shell taught in the legally segregated schools of the Old South, she would have felt compelled to justify racial segregation to her students. One only hopes Shell's philosophy of education is not widespread.

Expecting miracles

BRAVO TO the teacher who said she would not be called to task for showing inappropriate material during school hours to children. Unfortunately, too many teachers and parents believe it is the school system that should educate children on every aspect of life, including morals. If people were held accountable for what they did or did not do, teachers would be able to perform their calling of education. Instead, society has produced irresponsible people having children on whom teachers are expected to perform miracles.

Grass in the street

THERE ARE laws in Cape Girardeau against blowing grass clipping and leaves in the street. I have been calling the police department for years about this with some results at first, but none now. I have now been told you can't control where the grass goes when mowing. I bet some enforcement of the ordinances and fines would help direct the grass back into the yard.

Wonderful man

THANKS FOR your wonderful editorial praising the Kohlfeld family. Mike Kohlfeld is a wonderful man whose actions are always consistent with his kind words and humble demeanor.

Children's rights

I AM so glad I am not a child today. They are getting everything taken away from them, and there's nothing they can do about it. Not being allowed to drink sodas at school unless its diet is a perfect example. The only reason children are obese is because parents don't encourage them to play sports and instead spoil them with video games. I would say "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" doesn't apply to children. But what can they do about it? They are pushed around like slaves.

Wasted effort

KENT LIBRARY at Southeast Missouri State University spent a lot of money on a new coffee bar this semester. I heard that the library wanted to provide a place for students to hang out, but it's hardly ever open. Now I understand it's closed during finals week and the entire summer. What was the point of opening this coffee bar if it's always closed? As far as I'm concerned, Kent Library wasted a lot of money to build this coffee bar.