Letter: Our public schools are doing great work

Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005 | 10:25 a.m.

Why is it that the only people who stick up for the teachers are other teachers? Bart Boulton, the educator whose letter you printed Nov. 8 -- "Poor parenting one reason schools fail" -- is right on. I am not a Clark County School District teacher, but am the parent of two children who have been educated from elementary through high school within the local public school system.

With very few exceptions, the teachers, administrators and counselors in the school district have been intelligent, dedicated, well-prepared, effective, accessible and responsive to my children's educational needs. There are many variables besides teacher ability that affect learning outcomes.

Parents need to foster the development of study skills and intervene if grades, behavior or attendance slip. Students themselves need to take some responsibility for their own learning by paying attention in class and doing their homework. Teachers cannot teach when they spend their entire class period controlling a group of unruly students.

Lack of continuity due to transient populations or frequent rezoning does not support optimal learning. Finally, the high number of students for whom English is a second language certainly impacts outcomes. I think it is unrealistic for students to be required to learn a new language while simultaneously learning other new subject matter.

I know many families who could well afford to send their children to private school, but who have chosen the public school system because they believe it is superior.

Let's hear some support from the many parents and students who have taken advantage of, and benefited from, the excellent public education that is available. From my oldest son's kindergarten teacher who, on the first day of school, effortlessly organized a group of 30 5-year-olds without once raising her voice, to his current forensics teacher who spends most of his weekends teaching adolescents public speaking skills -- and everyone in between -- I count you among my greatest blessings, and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your are the best.

Gail Rattigan

Editor's note: The writer is a lecturer at Nevada State College in Henderson, where she is part of the nursing faculty.