Posted on 05/13/2010 1:09:23 PM PDT by NevadaPolicyResearchInstitute
Educational achievement in Nevada is dismal. Our high school dropout rate is the worst in the nation. "Nevada's 4th and 8th graders placed no higher than 43rd in math or reading on any of the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exams."
So naturally, the Legislative Committee on Education decided yesterday to move forward on a proposal to eliminate up to 10 school days a year. Not. A. Joke.
The committee did decide to recommend that the 2011 Legislature change state laws to give school districts the flexibility to shorten their school years.Please remind me again why we fund schools: Is it to educate children or to fund jobs for adults? This story makes me think some Nevada legislators believe it's the latter.The state now mandates a school year of 180 days.
The proposal would allow the state superintendent of public instruction to allow schools to cut as many as 10 days in times of "economic hardship."
Joyce Haldeman, associate superintendent of community and government relations for the Clark County School District, said the proposal could save jobs for teachers and other personnel.
If unions do not agree to "shared sacrifices," or reducing pay, school personnel would have to be laid off, Haldeman said. But the Clark County district can secure $9 million for each day it cuts from the year, and those funds could be used to avoid layoffs.
There are proven alternatives as well. At that hearing, NPRI's Patrick Gibbons presented 28 different recommendations for reform. And reforms like the ones he presented have a proven track record of success. Look no further than Florida, which implemented a host of free-market education reforms in 1998.
Now hold on there, before we jump to a wrong conclusion, do you really think spending more time in public “schools” is going to help?
Seems to me the more time people spend in “educational institutions” the dumber they get.
I think 4 days weeks would be the best option. Who concentrated on Fridays in school anyway....lol.
For many public schools,
the students would be better educated by NOT attending.
So maybe they’re on to something here.
If you increase a budget geometrically and there is an inverse relationship to results, perhaps it is time to boot some NEA arse out of the hallowed halls.
Cutting instruction time to zero would not mean a zero educational achievement rate, rather parents will simply find other avenues to edumacate their whelps productively.
10 less days of brainwashing. whatever.
I thought Obama wanted kids in school 6 days a week and 2 hours longer every day?
Yeah he said that but he was snorting “it” up.
Perhaps the idea of education for “everybody” is a false premise.
Who is willing to address directly the fact that the highest number of ‘students’ in the classroom are Hispanic- legal & illegal who do NOT speak English??? Reno & surrounding areas & Carson City.
Gang problems are also part of the problem. The kids are pressured to enter gangs, and many parts of the area are downright unsafe.
A caller to a local radio show -Bill Manders- last year called with his experience the day before.
He had to take his 3rd or 4th grade daughter to school late & he took her all the way to her classroom. Something he had never done before-maybe Mom was sick.
Anyway- when he loked inside the room, he realized immediately that his daughter was the ONLY white kid in the room. After a few quiet words with the teacher, he learned that his daughter was the ONLY one in the room who could read & write English.
He was stunned.
He informed Bill Manders that he & his wife were auditing their budget. They were putting their only daughter into a private school somehow-someway. Period.
Who is willing to address directly the fact that the highest number of ‘students’ in the classroom are Hispanic- legal & illegal who do NOT speak English??? Reno & surrounding areas & Carson City.
Gang problems are also part of the problem. The kids are pressured to enter gangs, and many parts of the area are downright unsafe.
A caller to a local radio show -Bill Manders- last year called with his experience the day before.
He had to take his 3rd or 4th grade daughter to school late & he took her all the way to her classroom. Something he had never done before-maybe Mom was sick.
Anyway- when he loked inside the room, he realized immediately that his daughter was the ONLY white kid in the room. After a few quiet words with the teacher, he learned that his daughter was the ONLY one in the room who could read & write English.
He was stunned.
He informed Bill Manders that he & his wife were auditing their budget. They were putting their only daughter into a private school somehow-someway. Period.
The high-water mark for standardized test scores occurred around 1965, when there were about 165 days in the school year in most states.
The baby-sitting, children-feeding stations that we call “schools” do not teach as much in 185-190 now as schools taught in 20-25 fewer days then. But they do serve a lot more meals, and that is what their mission seems to be.
If they would just add another “0” to the number of days that could be skipped, it would do a great deal to reform education in Nevada and serve as a model for the country ;-)
My sister’s daughter had the same experience. Her 1st grader this year was the only English speaking child in the class. and this was in an area of Vegas that is not what is considered “mexico” by the residents.
My kids both attended public school in vegas. They both have attended college, my son just graduated and my daughter is finishing her freshman year.
they were fortunate to have been in schools where the teachers were experienced long time faculty at the schools they attended.
By the time they finished, the majority of their classmates had dropped out or obtained a GED.
Ha! He does not know what he wants. He can’t keep anything straight anymore.
The less time our nation’s children spend in public schools, the better.
Sounds good to me. Cut the school year by at least a month.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.