Back to school: Shattering the culture of mediocrity

In case you missed all the "Back-to-School Sale" banners, today again means big yellow buses on the streets in the early mornings and afternoons, kids in crosswalks, the annual ritual of return to school that brings a sigh of relief from many a young parent.

Of course, the opening of school must mean more than a mere return to high-priced day care. In a competitive world economy, it's all the more important that American kids make faster, better progress in their core academic curricula.

The cheery enthusiasm with which most youngsters race to a place of learning is an inspiration to all.

Maintaining the enthusiasm and love of learning that are unmistakable in the very young will take hard work by student and teacher alike - as well as by visionary administrators with the public support necessary to stand up to hidebound interests who have long viewed our local school system as their personal cash cow, no matter where their self-serving antics leave the kids in the classroom.

Clark County Superintendent Dwight Jones has laid out a path toward such goals. Eliminating social promotion - making sure all kids can read before they enter the fourth grade, thus eliminating those sullen non-participants in the back of the room - is a crucial step.

To date, Mr. Jones' reforms remain a work in progress. These things take time and teamwork.

Earlier this summer, standardized test results showed modest improvement across the board in math, reading and science. But there's still a long way to go.

In particular, even as every other bargaining unit has offered concessions in order to keep funds and energies focused on the classroom during these tough economic times, the Clark County teachers union has declined to negotiate in good faith, or even to hold proper votes on contract offers. Yes, the state's deeply flawed arbitration system rewards such recalcitrant behavior with ongoing teacher raises, but the result is that the district had no choice but to eliminate 1,000 teaching positions this year, crowding as many as 36 or 38 kids into a classroom.

Mr. Jones vows to shatter the culture of mediocrity, rewarding achievement while challenging the entrenched education establishment.

These are vital goals. They deserve wide support and participation from the public - and yes, from teachers, too.