Letter: Lack of textbooks hinders learning

Wednesday, June 4, 2003 | 9:03 a.m.

I just read Mike O'Callaghan's "Where I Stand" column in the Las Vegas Sun. Though I am concerned with incomplete or slanted versions of history found in textbooks, I am outraged that my son and other students do not even have textbooks for basic subjects such as math. Currently, all these kids receive are incoherent work sheets with no examples, instructions, or any way to teach them math skills.

These students spend valuable classroom time copying down problem-solving equations from the blackboard instead of being taught how to reach the correct answers, and, more importantly, learning why the answers are correct.

I try to help my child with homework that he does not understand, but often I have no clue as to what the instructions are even asking for on much of the homework assignments. They are unclear. Much has been written regarding the Clark County School District and the alarming failure rate in math proficiency. I lay much of the responsibility on the district's lack of textbooks.

ROBERT S. BANKERT