Speak Out 10/28/03

THERE HAVE been several calls from people who claim that they know what educators are thinking. I'm an educator, and I don't want lower standards. I have very high standards for my students. I work very hard to teach them the skills they need so they can be successful not just on the MAP tests, but in college or on the job. What I want is for the expectations to be made clear to me. I have contacted DESE several times wanting clarifications on MAP objectives. It's amazing to me that the DESE people, even the people who have worked on the test in my subject area, are unable to explain to me what the objective actually tests. Many of the objectives are out of touch with reality, and that's part of the problem.

Not suspended

THIS IS in regard to the Jackson kids who burned the car. I'm trying to figure out why those kids haven't been suspended from sports. I don't think that's good for Jackson. I realize football is the big thing for Jackson, but I don't think that's teaching a lot.

Save a dog's life

I WASN'T aware that one had to choose between whether he wanted to adopt a dog or adopt a child. I don't think the people who called in were actually talking about whether a person should adopt a dog rather than adopt a child. They were just saying that if you're going to get a dog, rather than buy a dog go to the shelter and adopt a dog that's going to be put to sleep. That's the difference. A really nice person would do both: adopt children and dogs. But it's not the children who are at a risk of dying because they're not adopted. The animals at the shelter are. People should be kind and go to a shelter and save a life.

Let them have signs

I DON'T think those signs that let us know what's available at stores are trashy. I like the small-town feeling in Cape Girardeau If the city enforces the sign law, it needs to go back to those businesses a year later and ask for an honest accounting of how this has affected those business. If small businesses are losing out, then let them have their signs.

Somebody higher

"ONE NATION Under God." There is no religious fanaticism in using that phrase. We are a civilized free society. It helps us be better citizens and better people and know that we're not our own little selfish entity on this world. There is somebody higher than us that we'll have to answer to one day.

Run-around over fine

I RECEIVED a traffic ticket and paid the $50 fine. I received a cash receipt. I received a letter dated two days after I paid the fine saying I had not paid the $50, that I had actually only paid $40. When the clerk balanced the cash drawer at the end of the day, it was short $10. She assumed it was my ticket, and she voided my cash receipt and sent me a statement saying I owed a balance of $10. I've tried to resolve this. I called the clerk's office. They said I had to pay or have a bench warrant issued. I called the city manager's office. He told me to call the judge. I called the judge. The judge refused to speak to me. I have nowhere to turn. How can a clerk have the power to void a cash receipt and change the balance? That seems to open the door to corruption.

Fighting terrorists

NOTHING COULD endanger U.S. soldiers more than the constant haranguing by the Democratic senators of President Bush. No apology is necessary to terrorist warlords. We'll have to fight them all until these terrorists are eliminated from the free world. Freedom-loving people want to live in peace, free from fear of terrorists who kill randomly.

Red tape is no excuse

WHEN I was in school, teachers tested the students. I think if you went back to this and if the teachers unions leaned on the state to get rid of so much paperwork except for what is necessary, a lot would get done. Red tape is no excuse for school districts becoming too expensive.

They're already here

IN RESPONSE to the caller who asked if the crack users and hookers will still be on Morgan Oak when the River Campus is complete: Yes, they will, but they'll be on the South Pacific end of Morgan Oak. How do I know? I live at Morgan Oak and South Pacific. They're already here. I can chase them. My landlord won't chase them, and the cops won't chase them.