Uneducated people & Drugs (St. Louis, Cape Girardeau: motel, home, school)

[kimNtony]

Apparently kshe is one of the only people in Missouri who has accomplished anything living here.

As for the other posters comment of "when you move again in 3 years" - HA LOL, that isn't going to happen. This is the absolute LAST time we are ever moving anywhere. That is why we've been talking about where to move for the last year and have one year left before we actually move. It is not a light decision we face as we do not plan on moving again, but having a family and settling down for good.

Sometimes I do just want to blow off steam and wonder why I live in a state (or maybe it's just this city and surrounding area) that is full of morons that can't spell, do drugs and have no education. Perhaps if I'd lived in St. Gen or K.C. or Springfield, things would have been different. I'll never know. If there are places in this state that people succeed, I'd have loved to have lived there. As for St. Gen only being 30 miles away...it's a bit further than that. But who's counting.

Have a Happy Easter.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

I see there's no point in trying to convince you.

Actually, I live in Missouri, and I'm about to head off to college. My sister graduated 6th in her class and is about to finish college. My Mom has a college education and is a special education teacher. My Dad went to college for a few years and now works for a phone company.

Most people in my class are going to college. Some others are going to trade schools, which are important as well.

Obviously, you have a very narrow-minded view of Missouri, and I'm sorry for that. I know lots of Missourians and most of them have at least high school educations, if not better.

I'm sorry, but if you have this attitude everywhere, you will never be happy. I went to church today with a "bunch of stupid people" who love me and care about me. A lot of the "stupid people" have gone to college and have careers and families. A lot of these "stupid people" have gotten along just fine their entire lives. Some of these "stupid people" are the kindest, most wonderful people I know. Most of them are also humble, and will do anything for you.

I'm sorry that you feel the way you do, but with an attitude like that you will not be happy anywhere that you have to interact with people. I would tell you all that this Stupid Missourian thinks of you, but I'm afraid I would get in trouble. And I'm sure my simple mind couldn't come up with anything anyway.

I honestly feel sorry for you, that you cannot find one good thing in the beautiful state of Missouri. I'm sorry that you think we're all mentally challenged or druggies. Because honestly, that kind of elitist attitude will get you nowhere. How do you expect to make friends? Are you going to live in a neighborhood where every person is perfect and has a college education and makes tons of money? How do you know they've never done drugs? Fact is, you don't. You don't know anything about Missourians because you haven't tried to apparently. Either that, or you've gotten a very poor sampling.

So, where ever you go I wish you happiness, but I'm afraid that she who chooses not to love others will never be happy. Go find your Wisteria Lane and be happy for about ten minutes, until you find out that your neighbor is "stupid" as well and that you will have nothing to do with them. Fact is, you can not function properly without "stupid people" unless you go live in a cave. "Stupid people" who have no college education often run many parts of our country. You'd better not eat at a restaurant. Most of those "stupid people" have no college education.

Just love people. This attitude of "I'm better than these people" will not help you succeed. In fact, it will often turn people against you. You don't know people. You don't know their circumstances. You don't know what kind of people they are. In fact, I almost feel sorry for them, that they (or most anyone else) can't be good enough for you. And I feel sorry for you, since it appears that you can't love people for who they are.

[OA 5599]

One of my roommates is from Farmington. He's down here with me at the University of Texas working on a master's in electrical engineering. I'm originally from Willow Springs (much smaller and more impoverished than Farmington) and am working on my master's in civil engineering. Missouri does have its fair share of poverty, drug use, and trash people, there is no question about that. There was plenty of that when I was growing up and it is still the same. However, there ARE also plenty of educated and good people in the state.

I live in Austin, Texas now. I-35 divides the city. On the east side, it is quite poor and there are a lot of problems with drug use, poverty, and other crimes and general. Cars get broken into and stolen all the time. The rest of the city seems fine. Austin is a great place to live for the most part and has a wealth of culture and things to do, but I have to worry about my car getting broken into here, we have to keep our house locked up tightly (we live slightly on the east side of I-35), and there are a lot of homeless people here who aggressively panhandle. I never had to deal with any of that living in rural Missouri. Traffic is also fairly rough her (for a small city). I lived on a gravel road in Missouri. There was never any bad traffic, anywhere, unless you went to the cities. Every place has its ups and downs. I was quite happy living in Missouri and I'm quite happy living here. I've also spent summers in Lawrence, Kansas and Washington, DC. The only place I really ever miss is the Ozarks, and I'll probably move back to Missouri when I finish here, although to the St. Louis or Springfield areas where I can get a job, and still have things to do.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

And Kim, you did not give any "facts" you gave opinions. A fact is something proven, like a statistic. You gave none of that.

[kshe95girl]

Ste Gen is 29 miles from Farmington on 32, sign to sign, I have driven it ad nauseaum.
If you want to see truly frightening, I suggest you come to Florida. I would trade you any day of the week. Some of the people here make the ones you describe look positively erudite.
Again, perception is in the eye of the beholder. I am sorry you don't care for Mo, its one of my favorite places in the world, and has some of the friendliest people as well.
When I come home this summer, I am buying property in Ste Gen county, or perhaps the city proper.

[melissajo]

As a life long Missouri resident, I take offence to your statements. Especially, as I am an educator. I live in SW Missouri, but I can assure you we have fantastic school districts in our area (Webb City, Carl Junction, Neosho, etc). Missouri's ranking as far as test scores and education appears "bad" to someone who is not familiar with the MAP tests or No child left behind. Our MAP tests are very difficult. Other states simplified their tests when their students were not passing. So far, Missouri has not. Our students are tested to the highest state and national standards. Each school district has different results but I know my district and those surrounding our area, do very well. Our schools do not tend to meet AYP (Annual Yearly Progress-No Child Left Behind) but basically, there are impossible standards and funding to make that possible.

As I said before, I have lived in Missour my entire life. I was born in KC and lived there until I was about 12. Then my family relocated to the Cassville area. I attended college in Joplin at MSSU. I have lived in the Springfield/Branson/Ozark area previously and now reside in Joplin again. My husband and I (and about everyone we know) are college educated. My husband as an associates in accounting, but elected to not pursue a bachlors at this time because his current employment is fantastic and does not require it. I have a bachlors in education and plan to pursue my masters in counseling soon. I too was a Dean's list student and had a GPA of 3.5 so apparently people in Missouri can graduate from college. I don't know anyone in our "circle" of friends and acquaintances who dropped out of high school or does drugs.

My family is big in to traveling so I have been all over this country. However, there is nothing like Missouri in my opinion. Especially the SW Region. Sure, there is a meth problem in our state, but don't pin that on EVERYONE that lives here. The white trash, uneducated, drug users actually make up a small percentage of our populate. And to be honest, you have that everywhere.

Now I know there is no changing your mind. I think you can make the best out of any area with a positive attitude. I am sure there are great things about your area that you did not even take the time to find out about. I also think people in Missouri are very friendly and you could have missed out on knowing some great people if you could get passed the idea of them not graduating from high school or not knowing how to spell. When I was teaching in the Ozark area (not Ozark schools though) I encountered a lot of people who fit your description, although maybe not the drugs part). You know what though, they were honest, hardworking people. They were friendly. I love those people, regardless of their GPA or socio economic status. I loved their children. Please don't judge the entire state based off of your bad experience in one little town. There are so many opportunities and great things happening around here. And lots of great people too. I hope you enjoy wherever you move to next. However, if you keep up the negitive attitude and continue to pass judgement on people who you don't even know, I am guessing you will hate it there too. And everywhere else you go. Good luck.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Welcome back, kshe95girl!

I love Missouri, and the people I've found here are, for the most part, kind and smart.

And most people I know don't do drugs (as far as I know).

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by kimNtony

Apparently kshe is one of the only people in Missouri who has accomplished anything living here.

Could you please explain what you mean by that comment? I don't know if you are being sarcastic, or perhaps sardonic?

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by STLCardsBlues1989

Welcome back, kshe95girl!

I love Missouri, and the people I've found here are, for the most part, kind and smart.

And most people I know don't do drugs (as far as I know).

Thanks so much, STLCardsBlues, its so nice to know someone missed me!
I feel the same way you do about the fine people of Missouri, my family having been there since 1699, I feel that I can say that with some authority.

[melissajo]

PS Counting to 100 is learned in preschool and kindergarten in Missouri. It is a standard that must be met to pass on in to first grade. Counting change is a first grade expectation that must be met for entrance in to second grade. I am guessing that means most folks know how to do it, especially since everyone of my 6 year old students knows how.

And in my opinion, if your husband is in college, you shouldn't be eligable to receive aid from the state for being a low income earner. Afterall, your family made the choice to send your husband back to school and not work. Other people didn't make that choice and desperately need the money. But I guess that is my political side coming out.