Editorial: State schools in a deep hole
Friday, Jan. 5, 2007 | 7:12 a.m.
We are not surprised that Education Week found Nevada trailing most of the nation in the academic success of children from kindergarten through high school.
The publication just released a study that put Nevada at 43rd, but people "probably don't pay attention any more," Keith Rheault, state superintendent of public instruction, told Emily Richmond in a story in Thursday's Las Vegas Sun.
That is because for years studies of state education systems have ranked Nevada at or near the bottom of the nation. The problem, fueled by explosive growth, has never been adequately addressed.
Unfortunately the discussion over public education in Nevada has been lost in a misconstrued money-vs.-reform debate as right-wing conservatives have vilified "educrats," saying changes to the system to weed out inefficiency and waste are needed, not more money. However, it is foolish to try to address this problem with an either-or solution.
Certainly the state should be looking at ways to change the system to make it more efficient and improve the way we educate students. The sad reality is Nevada schools are in such a hole because they have never had the money to build enough classrooms, pay teachers appropriately or fund needed programs.
It is time for state leaders to agree that it is unacceptable for Nevada to rank so poorly and take the appropriate steps to educate our children.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Metro admits to improper release of criminal history data
- Locomotives win inaugural UFL championship
- Wonder drug for men flops, suggestive ad campaign coming under scrutiny
- Was a foiled bank heist a cry for help?
- If Palin’s book is so bad, then why is it a best-seller?
- Q&A: MMA fighter and Playboy model Latasha Marzolla
- UNLV recalls last year’s close shave at Louisville
- CityCenter: One man’s concept of a real city
- Metro corrections officer remembered for his love of family
- Live game blog: Bellfield, UNLV come through late, upset No. 16 Louisville
Blogs
The Kats Report
Could a savior of shuttered Las Vegas Art Museum be ... Peter Max? (6 Comments)
For Paul Stanley and KISS, rock and roll is not over (6 Comments)
Twenty years ago today, Human Nature took root on the farm (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond’s triumphant return to the Flamingo
The Kats Report
'DWTS' champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo (8 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Meeting of GOP governors draws challengers, not Gibbons (5 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Oscar loves forcing developers to sign labor peace agreements, Culinary loves the city's downtown plans and all is forgiven (10 Comments)
Calendar »
- 29 Sun
- 30 Mon
- 1 Tue
- 2 Wed
- 3 Thu
-
Tahoe Takeover at The Bank
The Bank | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Playboy Club model search
Playboy Club | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Queen of Queens at Revolution Lounge
Beatles Revolution Lounge | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Zowie Bowie's Vintage Vegas Show at Monte Carlo
Lance Burton Theater
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati









