VOX POP

Hey, to all the unfortunate teachers that will be out of a job due to the school districts cutbacks, I have a suggestion. You will need to get another job, right? Why don't you take the full-time teaching aides positions until things get better? That way you will not lose your position with the district. Sometimes we all need to swallow our pride and take what is available. It may not be utilizing your hard earned degree, but since this all about the children, the children would benefit from you.

Use Crosby's buses

What exactly is the temperature when the Brainerd School District cancels classes? According to my thermometer, on (Feb. 20) morning at 6:30 a.m. it was minus 17 and classes were canceled. On (Feb. 21) morning at the same time, it was minus 23 and classes were on time. It seems like maybe two hours late would have been sufficient. If it's true the bus company advised the school district to cancel classes on Wednesday, then maybe it's time to use some buses from Crosby where they had school on time.

Misguided efforts

I appreciate all the private sports "savior" efforts, but think they're very misguided in assuming a portion of current participants will need financial help. Activity fees today already stretch the budgets of multi-child, middle-income families. Kids today need to start early and continue in an activity in order to succeed at the high school level. The dramatic hike in fees is being proposed in order to keep all current activities. The appropriate thing to do would be to cut some activities so the remaining can thrive - not keep them all and price families and kids out of them.

Great bunch of people

Thank you very much for the demographics on (Feb. 24) front page. So far, it shows what I've always known about my fellow Brainerd/Baxter citizens: They're a great bunch of people! My guess is that we'll prove to be right in the middle of the USA statistics. I look forward to reading each release.

Let us know about prospective jobs

I'm among a great number of people in the Brainerd lakes area currently seeking employment through no fault of their own. There are a number of employers currently seeking qualified people to join their companies and I'm sure some are being overwhelmed with applications. Could these prospective employers contact these prospective employees and let them know if they are or aren't being considered for employment? The job seekers are anxious and not knowing is probably the worst part of seeking employment. Yes or no, please show us the professional courtesy of letting us know!

HART was responsible and pro-active

God bless HART for being so responsible and pro-active regarding the kennel cough issue. They could have stayed silent and let the dogs slip away, but they didn't. They appealed to the Dispatch and radio stations, and as a result, perfect dogs were saved.

Thanks to the animal lovers

Thanks to everyone who considered or took in an animal from HART. I'm an animal lover and it's amazing the support the community has given to these dogs. It's nice to know there are people out there that care as much as I do. I called Wednesday afternoon and all the dogs had already been fostered or adopted. I was shocked! When I read (Feb. 25's) paper all I could think of was how I was going to take in all the dogs left on Friday. I just wanted to say thank you to all you animal lovers out there!

Needs explanation

Real estate taxes up 19 percent. My home value down 10 percent. My income no change. Please explain.

Need better manners

I work at a local restaurant and I just want to say to the hockey teams in town for the tournaments. Shame on you! This isn't for everyone, but to the ones who run rampant in the restaurants. Shame on you parents who just sit and talk among themselves while your children are behaving that way. Shame on you kids who are running around and making an awful mess at the table. You are in town representing your hockey team and city - you are an embarrassment to both. I have two small children who have better manners than you.

Kids like routine

I totally agree with whoever wrote about early out days. I think the teachers have three months of time to get their workshops in - June, July and August. This way our kids can stay in school and have an uninterrupted schedule. I always learned that kids like routine. There is nothing close to routine in their school schedules. Don't let me even start on what it does to the parents and their work schedules.

Scared to leave library

I was at the Brainerd library last week also when there were kids loitering around the door at the library. I was skeptical about leaving and walking in front of them. I wish there was another door to go out of. You wouldn't think you would have to worry about entering and leaving a library without fear in Brainerd.

Gone, education, gone

No sport unfathomable. How about no class unfathomable. Three groups raising money for sports. I wonder, are people aware that teachers will be forced from their classes and schools to teach grades and subjects many of them have never taught and most have no desire to teach? Class sizes 38-plus? Where are the parent groups raising money for education? Yes, sports are an important part of education but not the most important part. Priorities people. As long as we have a game to attend, all is well with District 181. Go, Warriors, go. Gone, education, gone.

Should have roughed it

I'd like to comment about the fishing deal that was going on for the schools here on Thursday. A message to the parents: Next time we have something like this going on, leave your Vexilars and your fancy fishing poles at home. For an hour, I think you could have roughed it to show the kids how it was really like to do it back in the day without all that fancy stuff.

Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Submissions are limited to 100 words. To phone in a comment, call (218) 855-5888 and leave a message. To e-mail a comment, write to voxpop@brainerddispatch.com. Comments, which must meet the newspaper's standards of fairness and good taste, may be edited for clarity, length and libel.