What they're saying…

Here are excerpts from recent editorials in Missouri newspapers:

April 14

Southeast Missourian, on Missouri tax equity:

A proposed constitutional amendment that would limit property-tax increases following mandatory statewide property reassessment in Missouri has passed the House by a wide, bipartisan margin. The Senate earlier in this sessio 7/8 approved a change in state law that would have a similar effect, but asking voters to change the constitution would better withstand legal challenges, backers say.

If approved -- and it should be -- the constitutional amendment would require approval of Missouri voters at an election later this year, possibly at the same time as the general election in November. ...

Under the old assessment system, property values for tax purposes rarely changed unless the property was sold. Now county assessors are expected to reassess property every two years in an effort to keep pace with market values.

But currently some taxing entities -- school districts, cities, counties -- are reaping windfall revenue increases when reassessment values -- minus new construction and improvements -- increase faster than the pace of inflation. This is because those entities set their tax rates lower than the maximum allowed by voters rather than setting higher rates. As a result, taxpayers in those entities see their tax bills jump after every reassessment.

Opponents of the amendment say it could have the effect of forcing taxing entities to raise their rates, which would also mean higher tax bills for taxpayers. Even so, the aim of making property assessment equitable includes the aim of making tax bills equitable as well.

The amendment proposal approved by the House now requires Senate action to be placed on the ballot. A majority of the Senate already has indicated it favors a resolution to this issue. Approving the amendment would be a step in that direction.

April 13

Jefferson City News-Tribune, on driving in construction zones:

Missouri motorists are building a record of safety in construction zones.

And, although motorists have established a solid foundation, work remains to be done.

Five work-zone fatalities were recorded in 2007, which is 23 fewer than in 2004 and 14 fewer than in 2006. The most recent drop translates into a 74 percent decrease.

But, as Transportation Director Pete Rahn pointed out, the fatalities are ''still five too many.''

Rahn is known for using showmanship to make a point. Last week, he enlisted students to create orange fountains to represent the orange barrels designating work zones. ''Don't Barrel Through Work Zones'' is this year's public awareness theme, and was used last week to call attention to the beginning of the highway construction season.

Work zones are a necessary evil.

They are a temporary inconvenience that creates a lasting improvement.

They also endanger workers who are creating safer roadways.

Workers often must operate in close proximity to traffic. They must concentrate on their tasks while remaining alert.

Motorists must slow their speeds and frequently must merge into fewer lanes.

Attentiveness is paramount.

The primary causes of work-zone accidents are inattention, speed and following other vehicles too closely.

Although work-zone accidents sometimes involve workers, they also may be collisions only among motorists.

Orange soon will become a familiar color on Missouri roadways.

Orange barrels, signs, cones and safety vests will denote zones where highway work is in progress.

We urge Missouri motorists to improve on their record. Proceed with caution through work zones this construction season.

April 12

The Joplin Globe, on the return of science to the classroom:

Teachers, administrators and others interested in education, debate the true value of the No Child Left Behind Act.

While we dislike its unreasonable expectations of 100 percent achievement by 2014, and its ideological opposition to the law that ensures we educate individuals with disabilities, we saw something we like this week: the return of science testing.

Students in Missouri took science tests as part of this year's MAP tests. Fifth-, eighth- and 11th-graders are taking the test in addition to regular tests on communication arts and math.

The prospect of the tests led Joplin to introduce new curriculum for its science classes. This year, students in the testing grades used research kits alongside their textbooks, giving them hands-on exposure to scientific concepts.

Missouri got a head start -- the No Child Left Behind Act requires all public schools to test in science by 2009. Performance on those science tests will figure into determining how well a district meets education standards.

We like seeing science return to such prominence. Its importance waned as budgets dried up in the early 2000s. ...

As our understanding of the world increases, science becomes more important. An understanding of science and its many fields will ensure more than smart children it will become a major part of our nation's economic engine.

We hope to see this interest in science remain constant. If the last few years have proven anything, it's that our nation's academic priorities are directly proportional to our economic fortunes.

As Congress debates reauthorization of the NCLB Act, we hope this new requirement for testing science remains, and that adequate funding is provided.

April 11

Springfield News-Leader, on controversial campus poster:

Missouri State University officials once again found themselves dancing around a delicate First Amendment issue this week.

The question over where a student gets to display a critical, possibly offensive poster led to a new, somewhat tricky challenge.

Fortunately the issue didn't come to a boiling point.

Under pressure from other students crying racism, the student who had hung the posters using the phrase ''Uncle Tom'' decided to take them down. Friends of the student criticized in the posters, campus student body President Orlando Hodges, a black student, also helped with removal; he said his photo on some of the posters was copyrighted.

MSU is learning and adapting to these kinds of challenges.

Remember the strange and somewxat campy F-word protest a few months back?

And, who can forget the two high-profile federal lawsuits in recent years: Ryan Cooper challenged MSU rules on where students can stage protests and Emily Brooker accused the school and faculty of violating her First Amendment rights when she refused to sign a letter supporting homosexual adoption.

Like those before it, the latest dispute raises some intriguing questions:

Who decides what is offensive?

Has the term ''Uncle Tom'' -- a label tossed at blacks by more militant blacks for years -- now become a racial slur?

Doesn't David Weinsaft, a student senator who is white but himself a minority because of a cerebral palsy affliction, have the right to use strong language to claim a black student kowtows to the university?

MSU's Dean of Students Earle Doman -- thanking his stars for those pesky copyright laws -- seems relieved he didn't have to make those calls.

He said, though, that he believes the university would have desided to leave the posters up, had push come to shove. He also said he'll be using the dispute in several forums he plans with students in the near future. He said he'll be advocating civility.