LETTERS: Republican-led Legislature fails on education
Legislature failure
The Republican-controlled Nevada Legislature betrayed its supporters. While Assemblyman Paul Anderson crows about the Legislature‘s accomplishments ("This Legislature deserves a victory lap," June 28 Review-Journal), I see failure, especially in the education realm. Mr. Anderson talks of "a transformative moment in Nevada‘s history," but I see massive taxes that likely will not lead to the outcome hyped by Republicans.
When the "read by three" bill passed, I was perplexed at the accompanying cost. Why would ending social promotion at the third grade for students who are not proficient at reading be so expensive? The $27 million price tag pays for programs to offset ineffective teachers ("Accountability promises vanish in Sandoval‘s tax hike," June 24 Review-Journal). Furthermore, nonproficient readers won‘t be held back until the 2019-20 school year at the earliest. Those details are missing from Mr. Anderson‘s commentary, as he touts "comprehensive and aggressive education reforms." Hardly.
Education Savings Accounts created by this Legislature will allow parents access to state funds for education-related purposes, such as private schools and tutoring. This has merit and might be effective, provided regulations are well-written and fraud is prevented or at least minimal. I am, however, skeptical. There is very little that government does well. Predictably, columnist Steve Sebelius criticizes the ESA program because the funds would be used in the private sector, via private school tuition ("Don‘t cheer for surrender in public education," June 17 Review-Journal). The private sector can do something the public sector cannot: fire ineffective teachers. Secular private schools are profit-driven. They want satisfied parents to continue to enroll their children and spread the word to their friends of the excellence of their schools.
While the Legislature spent weeks and weeks and millions and millions of dollars on education legislation, they neglected to address teacher tenure and rein in the teachers unions. Consequently, not much will change. Those lofty-sounding, costly programs will be taught by public school teachers with tremendous job security. The Legislature missed its opportunity to enact truly aggressive education reform.
JENNIFER ANDERSON
HENDERSON
Promoting divisiveness
Why do politicians such as Sen. Harry Reid, joined by the media, seem to enjoy promoting hate and separating and dividing Americans by race? One man decided he wanted to start a race war in Charleston, S.C., and thanks to the politicians and the media‘s biased reporting, he succeeded.
Sen. Reid is again stirring the pot, condemning "Rebels" as UNLV‘s mascot. How is UNLV‘s mascot insensitive? It has nothing to do with the Civil War. UNLV‘s basketball team is the "Runnin‘ Rebels" and is proud of it.
It‘s not disturbing enough that Sen. Reid is demanding that the Washington Redskins change their name. Will he also demand collegiate teams such as the Florida State Seminoles, the North Dakota Fighting Sioux, Utah Utes and William and Mary Tribe be renamed? Institutions that contributed to the heritage of our country did not name their sports teams to disrespect anyone. These names were chosen with pride -- symbols of original Americans and their warriors.
America has gone through some terrible and wonderful times, but the country should never allow anyone, or any group, to suppress or censor the complete truth of America’s heritage and history. We will learn from them, try not to repeat some of them and together become even stronger.
PHOEBE DINSMORE
LAS VEGAS
Bearing arms
The shooting of two perpetrators during a home invasion clearly illustrates the need for gun ownership to protect one‘s home ("Intruder killed, another is shot," July 2 Review-Journal). Law-abiding citizens have this right.
What if the resident wasn‘t armed? He and his family would probably be dead. This should be a test case for the anti-gun crowd, which is understandably quiet.
JOSEPH MOLINARO
HENDERSON
Bundy‘s BLM conflict
I found Cliven Bundy‘s comments about the Bureau of Land Management to be ignorant and offensive ("Cliven Bundy says he met Gold Butte surveyors but didn’t menace them," June 12 Review-Journal online). BLM officials deserve recognition and respect. They are charged with managing our public lands for many users. They continuously work to remove trash, clean up vandalism, restore damage to the desert created by off-road drivers and provide law enforcement.
I have explored the Gold Butte area for years and, sadly, the BLM‘s absence over this past year is painfully obvious. There is an increasing amount of trash in popular camping areas. I have seen fences cut, signs knocked over and trampled and a growing number of vehicle tracks cut into the desert because people are driving off the roads, where they shouldn’t be.
The BLM would have fixed these problems, but instead, the issues are getting worse. Mr. Bundy says he wasn‘t involved in the June 5 shooting incident involving surveyors hired by the BLM, but his hostile attitude is creating an unsafe situation for everyone and is damaging the land.
NANCY GENTIS
LAS VEGAS
