Editorial: Education photo-op

Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 | 6:11 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION Nov. 8 - 9, 2003

On Monday U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons is holding what he calls an "education summit." The Northern Nevada Republican says the gathering in Reno is to focus on achieving the goals of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. At first glance, the meeting looks impressive. It will be attended by two U.S. Education Department officials -- the director of teacher quality and the deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. The state's 17 school district superintendents also have been invited.

But, upon closer inspection, the "education summit" looks more like an orchestrated campaign event, especially since Gibbons has said previously that he might run for governor in 2006. First of all, the so-called "education summit" lasts just one hour. Those attending will be lucky to get through their introductions before it's almost time to end the meeting. Superintendents can talk one-on-one with the federal officials once the one-hour meeting ends at noon, but a substantive summit would last at least a full day -- more likely two or three days. Gibbons and federal education officials will take media questions for a half-hour after the "education summit" is over, but the "summit" itself is closed to the media, another warning bell. U.S. Education Department officials, therefore, won't have to deal publicly with uncomfortable questions from superintenden ts, many of whom believe the law's requirements are unrealistic and punitive.

Gibbons has been an effective congressman in many ways, particularly on national security issues. He is looking, however, for ways to deflect criticisms that he has hampered education in Nevada. In 1995 he led a successful drive to change the Nevada Constitution -- it now requires at least a two-thirds vote in the Nevada Legislature to increase taxes. This change has made it more difficult to adequately fund public schools. Nevadans should see the "education summit" for what it really is -- a campaign photo-op that won't do much to further the cause of education in this state.