Letter: Spend more time in classrooms

Monday, Jan. 24, 2005 | 8:58 a.m.

I would like to congratulate state Sen. Bob Beers for having the fortitude and intelligence to note, and wanting to correct the excessively heavy number of administrators in the Clark County School District. For too long we have heard the same canned message emanating from CCSD headquarters that the district is short of classroom teachers and school administrators. Perhaps if some of the prima donnas who occupy nonteaching positions were periodically recycled to the classroom, we would not have quite the teacher shortage that we do.

An audit should be made to determine how many district and building administrators have been out of the classroom more than five years since assuming administrative duties. Those that occupy positions with limited student contact are the ones most likely to turn out mindless, nonsensical and meaningless paperwork and procedures to overburden teachers. Too often these individuals must justify their position by producing additional paperwork to be completed by teachers.

Requiring all administrators to assume classroom teaching positions on a periodic five-year cycle would do much to improve education in this district. Administrators returning to classroom positions should do so at the teacher salary schedule and without any preference for school or class loads. They should not be given preference of only high-level classes, but should experience those in remedial or basic programs. They are, after all, supposed to be master teachers.

VRGIL A. SESTINI

Editor's note: Virgil A. Sestini, now retired, taught science in the Clark County School District.