Dear Editor:

Do the math — will the price of two cups of Starbucks coffee make our kids better educated?

Amendment No. 2 would allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to regulate licensed sports wagering including online sports betting, gambling boats, professional sports betting districts and mobile licenses to sports betting operators State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s office estimated unknown tax revenue ranging from $0 to $28.9 million annually.

Commercials using teachers as spokespersons claim $100 million over 5 years to increase the teacher pay scale.

Missouri has 518 traditional public school districts (charter and private schools excluded) and an approximate 3,000 elementary and secondary schools, which are staffed with 66,645 teachers educating approximate 879,000 students. The $20 million per year boils down to an average of $38,000 per district, $6,666 per individual school, and a $303 per year teacher pay increase — roughly $6 per week!

Amendment No. 5 would allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to issue one additional gambling boat license. State governmental entities estimate an annual gaming tax revenue of $14.3 million, and commercials claiming $14 million to benefit schools.

At $14 million per year — 518 traditional public school districts (charter and private schools excluded) and an approximate 3,000 elementary and secondary schools, which are staffed with 66,645 teachers educating approximate 879,000 students — the revenue amounts to $27,000 per school district, $4,500 per school and a $210 annual teacher pay increase. That boils down to roughly $4 a week for teachers.

It’s a known fact gambling addictions harm families. Are two cups of coffee really worth harming children’s families.

Joyce Lessely

Cassville