The Globe’s report (June 24) about the new plan proposed by the Joplin School Board stirred many memories.
In 2003, the decision was reached to close the alternate high school at West Campus. A number of students with difficult backgrounds were being taught there by extremely dedicated teachers.
Economic Security had devised a program, “Graduating with a Future” to encourage West Campus students to remain in school. Members of the Rotary Club of Joplin were meeting West Campus students one-on-one at lunch to give them advice and support with their studies. All of this came to an end in 2003. The teachers were dispersed. Economic Security could no longer continue its program, and the Rotarians were not allowed to lunch with their students who had now been transferred to Joplin High School.
At the time I thought that it was incredible that meaningful community support should be denied to students who would benefit from it most.
One would think that such interest would be greatly prized and encouraged. Maybe this time the Joplin School Board will get it right.
Bill Christman
Joplin
Opinion
Letter of the week: Another chance
- Opinion
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Our View: Victims should come first
Millions of dollars in donations have poured in from around the world since the May 22, 2011, tornado. Those donations represent money from lemonade stands, charity auctions, corporate gifts and celebrity checks, just to name a few. In fact, one year later donations continue to come to Joplin.
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Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
I would like to take a moment to reply to guest columnist Anson Burlingame’s, “The Marriage Debate” (Globe, May 13).
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Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
Editor’s note: In addition to speeches by President Barack Obama and Gov. Jay Nixon, Joplin High School’s top students addressed graduates, faculty, parents and other guests packed into the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus. Following are the text of those speeches.
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Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Pack mentality takes truth as a casualty
President Obama’s Joplin graduation speech Monday showed that while there’s the political “right,” there’s also a very active “rabid” political right.
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Your View: ‘Study’ can mean anything
A few evenings ago, I watched a television program on the science of marriage.
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Our View: Support for museum
How can you tell the story of Joplin without the accounts of its mining history?
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Our View: Finding middle ground
The G-8 summit held last week in Camp David ended as expected.
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Anson Burlingame, guest columnist: Class of 2012 upholds character, hope
My oldest granddaughter was part of the class of 2012 from Joplin High School, and I attended the ceremony on Monday night.
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Scott Charton, guest columnist: 'Deadline in Disaster' film a story about storytellers
Local newspapers are at their best when they help their communities confront, understand, endure and overcome shared challenges.
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Our View: Make voting easiser
This year’s ballot will not include a proposed constitutional amendment that photo identification be required at the polls in Missouri. Good.
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Our View: Victims should come first


