Speakout

Getting a schooling

The Crimean invasion by Russia has distracted us from the continuing destruction of our children's education. The Common Core curriculum does not adequately teach the expected reading, writing and arithmetic. Phonics, the basic process for learning reading, is discarded and that gives us poor readers. Perfect penmanship is dropped so students can't even write legibly or read cursive. They can't read therefore the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights as they are written, not printed. In math, they won't know their multiplication tables as they are expected to rely on calculators. No longer will they work out problems with just pencil and paper. These basic skills are neglected. History texts are destroyed. The basic education system is replaced by emphasis on social justice, race, education of the PC entry levels even down to kindergarten. The states will bear the cost of this social experiment advised and enforced by Washington bureaucrats. We are losing local control of parental rights and privacy. What a contrast to the country of years ago where one teacher could teach eight grades in one room. The parents in the larger schools were welcomed where they want them to be on the school board, run the school and provide suggestions for projects. There was so much safety, learning, freedom and community involvement in schools then. No bullying and so on. It originally started with the Pledge of Allegiance, a student-led devotion and do unto others as the commandment that made our schools and county great.

Can't have it all

I want to speak out about the article in the Speakout on Feb. 28 titled "We are ruined." The caller said we are ruined because rightwing Republicans are ruining the state of Missouri because they refused to go along with the Obama Medicaid regulations. I know people are very upset because they want benefits. I am elderly. I live on a fixed income. I need a lot of things that I have to do without but I know the government will not provide them. People do not seem to understand that America is broke. We are $17 trillion in debt. Recently the Secretary of the Treasury said we must borrow more money or American can't pay their bills. I don't like to be pessimistic but with this out-of-control spending I can see America going bankrupt and when it does every program will go bankrupt with it. Don't believe for one minute that it can't happen because it certainly can. Anything can happen to a country that no longer honors God. America sticks its finger in God's eye at every opportunity so we must prepare ourselves because we are going to see things we have never seen before. Economic collapse and wicked weather is only the beginning.

Silence the chimes

What is with the noon-time chimes on the new Early Warning System sirens? They are extremely loud. What if you lived close to them and were sick or you had babies or young children napping? They would certainly wake them up and for absolutely no purpose that I can see or understand. I have a watch, a clock on my cell and auto, as well as clocks all over the house. I don't need to be told when it is noon, however, I do feel I have the right to peaceful enjoyment of premises. These devices are for emergencies and should only be used for that purpose. If they are being tested, OK, but how much time does this require? These are for emergency use, they are not toys. And by the way, does the frivolous use of these violate the city noise ordinance?

Protect those with dementia.

If you have a family member that has dementia and they are used to driving, please take their car keys or even their car. If you leave their car keys and car, that is just like a fox in the hen house. Something bad is going to happen. So please take the keys and the car or move them in with you or something.