By Staff
Why manufacturing jobs are disappearing
To the editor:
A recent editorial ("Taking a stand," The Meridian Star, Sept. 28, 2003) pointed out to The Star's readers that Barbara Blackmon is a liberal trial lawyer and Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck is a conservative. I understood the warning was that if you don't elect Ms. Tuck, manufacturing jobs in Mississippi will go away.
The majority of large corporations and businesses (large or small) tend to be conservatives and one of the main reasons that manufacturing jobs are disappearing is conservative business wanted to keep more of their
profits and the way for them to do it was to move the jobs overseas or out of the country to other countries that have cheap labor.
Conservatives paint the word liberal as something unholy and perverse. I am an independent and know of many brave and righteous liberals fighting and dying for this country in Iraq. The reason the writers stand behind Ms. Tuck is a black and white issue. I applaud any Mississippian that can see beyond the smoke screens and stand behind truthfulness and common sense when it comes to the real reason manufacturing job are disappearing.
Michael Thomas
Meridian
Parental involvement in public schools: No quick fix
To the editor:
I have to take issue with the letter from Deloris McQuarley regarding parental involvement in the Meridian Public Schools ("Parental involvement needed in schools," The Meridian Star, Sept. 28, 2003).
I run the Parent/Family Literacy Center at Oakland Heights. I know just how hard it is to get the parents to come in. They work, just like we do and they are trying to do the best for their children and family.
It is easy for Ms. McQuarley to notice and point out the bad things she saw while visiting. However, I have to point out all of the wonderful things that go on daily in our schools and community that she doesn't see.
Yes, more parental involvement would be wonderful. I am a parent too, we (parents and educators) know that there are things that can be done better, but please don't offer a "quick fix" when you don't live here to see all of the wonderful things that are happening daily.
The children are monitored. We can't follow them home or hold their hand until they get there. We can only be responsible for so much, and most of the parents are trying to do the right thing, too.
Tia Bajus
Meridian
Education system no place to find solutions
To the editor:
An editorial ("Falling behind," The Meridian Star, Sept. 21, 2003) caught my recent attention. I tend to agree with the editorial and wanted to point out a couple of things.
The place to get solutions to the education problem is not from the education system. For many years now they have been telling us several stories. Such as it is the parents, it is the money, it is the children,
it is the class size.
People have rallied around all of these things and yet education continues its downward trend. I would like to suggest that people actually start looking at what is being taught. Look at where the curriculum comes from.
Compare that to when we had an educated society. The teacher's colleges have changed what they are teaching. The base of what they teach is from psychological think tanks, not true halls of learning.
When we were an educated society, we didn't have all of the psychological involvement.
Look for yourself. I did and was amazed at what I found.
Lora Mengucci
Salt Lake City, Utah
Wondering why
To the editor:
My son comes home bragging about the charter bus that the Northeast Trojans football team rode in to their game Friday night, yet all four of my school aged children (two at the middle school, two at the high school) come home at the beginning of each semester telling me that if I don't pay a $5 or $10 lab fee my child will not be able to participate in a required class.
We shout with joy that Gov. Musgrove brags around the country about Mississippi being the first state in the nation to put a computer in every classroom, yet we still have the lowest paid teachers in the country and our children must beg money from their parents for fees in core curriculum classes.
It really makes me wonder … we pay taxes to fund schools, the federal and state governments chip in and we can afford computers everywhere and all kinds of extra curricular activities (at little or no expense to parents). But we are required to help fund essentials in mandatory classes.
I graduated from high school 20 some years ago, but, I just don't get it.
Chris Short
Meridian