Saturday, March 01, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LOBBYING EFFORT: Valentines criticized

Teachers encourage students to send pro-tax messages to lawmakers

Jackie Brantley, director of constituent services for Gov. Kenny Guinn, shows off one of the valentines teachers asked students to send to support his proposed tax increase. Photo by Jeff Scheid. Clark County School District teachers encouraged their students to send valentines supporting higher taxes to Gov. Kenny Guinn and legislators, but some lawmakers called the messages inappropriate lobbying efforts orchestrated by teachers. Photo by Jeff Scheid.

Seven boxes of valentines urging Gov. Kenny Guinn and legislators to raise taxes to fund education are spread out in the governor's conference room, a bright mass of cheerful colors awaiting his viewing.

"Please raise my mommy's taxes," said one carefully printed effort by a youngster.

Students from elementary, middle and high schools all over the valley created the valentines, which carry messages such as, "Please raise taxes so we can focus on our dreams and do what we love."

As they sit in the governor's conference center, they look like a sweet outpouring of support for Guinn's tax proposals.

However, the students, many in fine arts programs, were urged to make the valentines by their teachers, who combined politics with schoolwork.

Two Republican senators said Friday the valentines were an inappropriate lobbying effort by teachers.

"I don't think children should be used to lobby the Legislature on behalf of the teachers' interests," said Sen. Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson. "I think it's an inappropriate use of the children's time."

Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, said it's one thing to have students debate issues or discuss taxes, but that both sides need to be presented. "Legislators love it when kids are involved, but not when it's something somebody is telling them to say or do."

Cegavske questioned, "How many parents knew their kids were doing this? Did they approve or disapprove?"

The idea to create valentines supporting the $1.1 billion tax increase originated with community activist Louise Helton, who said Classrooms on Wheels, a program for underprivileged children, has made valentines for several years as a way to thank the governor. This year, she encouraged teachers to get involved.

Helton said the valentines were not out of line. "I don't view it as the children being used," she said. "I think children's voices do need to be heard, and this was a wonderful opportunity for them to have a voice on something critical for their future."

She said she's made it clear that no taxpayer funds should be used, and teachers should provide the materials.

Joyce Haldeman, the school district's executive director of community and government relations, announced Helton's idea at a staff meeting attended by art and music teachers.

Marcia Neel, the district's coordinator of secondary fine arts programs, e-mailed art teachers, asking them to encourage students to support it.

Neel wrote: "Financial support from our legislature is vital to the future of CCSD Art Programs. When funding and budget cuts are discussed, fine arts, activities, and athletics are always on the chopping block. Students involved in art education need to make their voices heard by the Nevada Legislature."

Neel explained how the valentines should be addressed and said students were being asked to deliver the cards to the Sawyer Building on Valentine's Day.

"The valentines should have a message like 'Have a Heart, Support Education,' " she wrote. Many said exactly that.

Guinn, who has proposed $1.1 billion in tax hikes over the next two years, hasn't come down from Carson City and so hasn't seen the thousands of valentines yet. But Jackie Brantley, his director of constituent services, said he will. The valentines "will mean so much to him and keep him going forward."

Several hundred were sent to the Legislature in Carson City and lawmakers were invited to peruse them in a conference room and take a few if they liked. "Obviously a lot of time and effort went into it," said Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Lorne Malkiewich. "Many were signed by every member of the class. There were thousands of signatures."

Many of the valentines supported the music programs.

"Without music I am half a person," wrote an older student.

One teacher at Green Valley High School made the pro-tax valentines a required assignment and when a student complained, a Clark County School District administrator reminded teachers they should not use classroom time or materials and that any effort like this must be voluntary.

Green Valley High School Principal Betty Sabo said she did not know the identity of the teacher who made the valentines an assignment. "I can't fault anybody as long as it's not compelled and as long as it's not taking class time to a degree that's unreasonable."