VOX POP

Interesting how the Nisswa Chamber is suddenly all up in arms about possible school closings, when, obviously, half of the businesses in Nisswa didn't support the referendum in the first place; evident by the "Vote No" sign posted prominently in the busy Nisswa Square shopping area.

Will home schooling become the norm?

After reading everything that I can absorb to stay informed I have never heard the school board mention a teacher-administration wage freeze. Their wage increase is unheard of in the real world. Wouldn't they feel terrible knowing they're taking from the kids by cutting programs and closing schools? Will home-schooling become the "norm?" I know several families who home-school and these kids excel with much better grades than being public school taught. One kid graduated at the top of the class and they are well-rounded citizens ready to contribute to society.

Save the money for the kids

Why did the school district spend so much money on fancy buildings and architecture when it should have been spending the extra money on the kids? Build normal schools and save the money for the kids. Please remember that next time we build a new school.

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What did you expect?

I voted for the Brainerd schools referendum, even though I feel much of the responsibility and blame rests with the governor and the state Legislature. I'm very sorry to hear that Nisswa elementary may be closing as a result of the "no" vote. The fact remains however that nearly 60 percent of residents there voted the referendum down. What did you expect?

One complaint

We have one complaint about our quiet neighborhood - all the dogs running loose. When your dog is roaming, he may come into a situation where he feels he has to protect himself and bite somebody. You'll likely have someone insisting that your dog be euthanized. A dog out of his own yard charged at my dog and me. He was so threatening that a boy on his bicycle put himself between the charging dog and us. For your dog's safety and, potentially, your neighbors', keep your dog at home. If you're not willing to do so, you shouldn't have one.

Absolute joke

After attending this past weekend's dog show, or whatever it was supposed to be called up at the local international race track, two words best describe the two-day "shindig" - absolute joke.

'Educasion'

I talk good for someone with no educasion. See, huked onn foniks reeli werks.

Should remain silent

On Monday, I noticed the front page article describing Nisswa's newfound attempt to save its community school. I found the irony overwhelming. By voting tally, the Nisswa community voted almost 2 to 1 against the referendum. Nisswa residents were willing to close elementary schools when they thought it was someone else's community they were affecting. Yet now when it's Nisswa that's threatened, the stance has reversed. If closing Nisswa's school best serves the remaining schools, then by Nisswa's own vote, the school board should close Nisswa's elementary school and their townspeople should remain silent.

Imagination Library

Why should the United Way be spending more than $60,000 on Imagination Library, instead of giving to the local nonprofits here? Yes, a great way to make readers out of children, but most the children receiving these books are from families that can afford to buy books and do read to them anyway. What percentage of kids receiving these books are from low-income families that cannot afford books? And how many of those parents are reading these books? No accountability or results to this program have been shown.

Do our part

Instead of cutting classes like home economics and shop that are practical courses that teach our children how to survive in life, where we need to take a closer look is at the administration level. Our teachers are the ones who are educating our children. School board, if you really care about our children, take a look at every area. Everyone has to learn how to manage their money and that goes for all of us. Our economy's in a tough spot right now. We need to do our part to cut back and do what's best for our children.

Recipe for disaster

One controversial operating levy referendum. More than 8,000 no votes with referendum failing. One anonymous opinion column. Directions: Bake ingredients in 500 degree hypocritical newspaper for several weeks. Don't remove from newspaper. Allow to cool for 20 years. Disaster is ready when community is totally split.

Teach by example

Everybody is concerned about the kids and how the referendum outcome will affect them. Yes, the no voters too. Can anybody give one example of how this whining serves the community? People need to grow up, be adults and move on. Let's all be teachers and teach by example.

Have we been praying?

Did you know there is a secret to solving problems? It's receiving the favor of God to help us through any situation. He gives the wisdom, strength, power, understanding, courage and love to see it through. How do we receive the favor of God? By obeying his word which says, "In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing." (Philippians 2:14). Instead, we are to pray about everything, seeking God's will for every situation. The more difficult the problem, the more praying we do, the more help we receive. Have we been praying or just complaining and arguing?

What will they do?

When the Crow Wing County commissioners decide this month on a security company for the Crow Wing County Judicial Center, will they pick one that offers employees benefits and overtime or disregard the needs of the contract employees again?

What's the rest like?

Regarding the Nisswa school article and looking at the numbers that are printed there, it says there are approximately 220 students and 38 staff members. That breaks down to about 5.8 students per staff member. That should be enough people. I would be interested to know what the rest of the school district is like.

Just curious

I was just wondering if there was going to be a double standard in the way the school board decides to close schools. When Garrison and Pine Center were closed several years ago the community just cried and cried and cried, asking that their schools stay open and now we have Nisswa which is on the rich side of town and begging to keep their's open. I'm just curious which way the school board will fall.

A challenge

I challenge the Brainerd teachers' union to open their contract to a wage reduction for the 2008-09 school year as a way to save the district up to $600,000. That money should only be used to retain teaching positions in the classroom thereby minimizing large class sizes and reducing the workload on the existing teachers.

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.