OpinionNovember 19, 2007
Speak Out 11/19/07
Interesting reflexology; Scott County's budget; Go see for yourself; Trains not so great; Homework proficiency; Feel the difference
Interesting reflexology
I LIKE your feature on reflexology. It is a very interesting subject that is not discussed very often.
Scott County's budget
BUDGET ISSUES in Scott County: The following is a quote from Scott County Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger in the Sikeston newspaper: "In recent years, commissioners have budgeted for increasing county law enforcement to round-the-clock coverage 'and that all comes at a cost,' Burger said. 'I think we are making an impact with money spent on law enforcement but we may not have the money to continue doing so.'" Sounds like Burger needs either a PR person for his news releases or stop talking. By this statement Burger is implying to the citizens of Scott County that after the first of next year we may not have full-time law enforcement for Scott County, which includes deputies, corrections and communications; it appears to be an open invitation for crime and disorder. I don't know about the rest of the citizens, but I would rather see the other departments downsize and commissioners give up their salaries before I would do without law enforcement. If the county budget is in bad shape, maybe the commissioners need to look at the extras that Burger insisted on this past year, like emergency management trailers, rebuilding the memorial and new landscaping at the courthouse.
Go see for yourself
BEFORE YOU judge something, try it out first. To the person who has already decided he or she will not go to the River Campus because he/she "heard" the parking is not that great: Why are you letting other people decide for you? You need to attend a performance and decide for yourself. I have been to the River Campus many times. It is gorgeous, and the parking is great! Why complain when you can see how elated the students are to perform and learn in such an amazing facility?
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Trains not so great
THE PERSON who suggested we use more trains for transportation like in Europe has obviously never been on a train in Europe. If that's the future of travel here, I'll walk.
Homework proficiency
THE LAMENT of a teacher too lazy to grade homework is the claim that there is no correlation between homework and grades. Of course there is a correlation between homework and proficiency. Children learn by repetition. The more they practice, the more proficient they become. Without repetition, they forget as much as 80 percent of what they have been taught within the first 24 hours. If teachers would design tests to actually test students, they would see correlation between homework and proficiency.
Feel the difference
I HAVE challenged 24 students (12 from Central Junior High School, 11 from Jackson Junior High School and one from Clippard Elementary School) to do three acts of kindness each school day until the end of the school year. Three adults, including myself, have also agreed to take part in the challenge. Most of us plan to document our acts for accountability. Do you think our community will feel the difference that 10,530 acts of kindness can make? If you would like to participate in our Acts of Kindness challenge, call Stacy at THRIVE at 651-3747, ext. 118, or e-mail me at THRIVE@communitycaringcouncil.org. THRIVE is based on the 40 developmental assets framework. Some of the developmental assets are caring school climate, service to others, positive peer influence and sense of purpose. Participation in the Acts of Kindness challenge build these assets in our community.
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