Letter: Myriad problems face valley’s teachers
Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007 | 7:12 a.m.
I am a sixth grade teacher and I thoroughly agreed with Jason Kern's Jan. 5 letter to the editor. The number of students in most fourth through 12th grade classes is too large. The problem Mr. Kern, a high school teacher, faces with piles of work to correct is but one of the problems. Included in the large size are special education children who have a variety of special needs, including different learning modes and needing assignments changed, ADHD, ADD and a variety of other physical, behavioral and learning problems.
We have students who come to our classes with no English language skills, and we have a large number of students for whom English is a newly acquired, and not yet fully developed, skill. In addition, we have a transient population as children regularly change schools throughout the year. The No Child Left Behind law tells us that all these children need to pass the same tests successfully at the same time or our schools are a failure.
It's true that all of our children need to be educated, and having a wide variety of students in our classes can be a plus ... if the class size is such that each child can get the attention he or she deserves. However, thinking we are going to consistently raise test scores under the conditions listed above is wishful thinking. For those who say we can, I will add, we can teach to the test. I don't consider this educating our children.
Valerie Hughes, Las Vegas
archive
Spotlight
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Marie Osmond still ‘struggling’; this week’s ‘Donny & Marie’ shows at Flamingo called off
- School District survey asks residents where to direct cuts
- Worst of recession may be over, but Las Vegas still has to hold on
- County, Rhodes reach agreement on development near Red Rock Canyon
- ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ profile catches Newton amid ever-changing hardships in his life, career
- After a moment of clarity, Grandy Glaze excited to be a Rebel
- Mandalay Bay’s Rumjungle nightclub files for bankruptcy
- For Willis and Stanback, a second chance to make a first NCAA tourney impression
- $45 million for maglev shifted to airport road project
- Doctors: Medicaid cuts will decrease access for Nevada’s poor
Blogs
Elsewhere
Grand jury subpoenas Ensign-tied companies
Shark Bytes
Advancing to play Kansas would be great exposure
The Kats Report
A spin through the scene at Todd English's very public pub opening
Politics: Ralston's Flash
NRCC goes up against Titus (1 Comment)
Rebel on the Road
Fan hits the road to cheer for Rebs in tourney (3 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Gibbons to Berkley: Don't vote for 'irresponsible' health care plan (7 Comments)
The Kats Report
Marie Osmond still 'struggling'; this week's 'Donny & Marie' shows at Flamingo called off (27 Comments)
Calendar »
- 18 Thu
- 19 Fri
- 20 Sat
- 21 Sun
- 22 Mon
-
Sander Kleinenberg at Vanity
Vanity Nightclub | 10:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
NCAA tailgate party at Rhumbar
The Mirage Hotel and Casino
-
March Mayhem at Rockhouse
Rockhouse Bar & Nightclub
-
Las Vegas Wranglers vs. Alaska Aces
The Orleans Arena
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati


















