Subjecting kids to liberal propaganda
To the editor:
I don't usually read the Review-Journal's "The Mini Page" for kids, but Tuesday's edition caught my eye. Under the declarative headline "It's Time to Act: Our Changing Climate," I expected some environmentalist propaganda written especially for the impressionable minds of the young, and "The Mini Page" delivered. In spades.
Quoting the ever-useful "many scientists" throughout, the little ones read that polar bears are starving to death, that "bridges and buildings may not last" and -- worst of all -- animals will be forced to migrate farther north to escape the heat. Wow!
Of course, none of this nonsense has been proved. In fact, most of the conclusions of "many scientists" last year were found to be outright fabrications created by climate analysts eager to protect their precious research grants. Even Al Gore went into hiding.
The overall conclusion of "The Mini Page" was that the Earth's climate is changing, animals are suffering and mankind is to blame. Unless we act fast! Oh, and don't call it "global warming" anymore. "Most scientists" now call it "climate change," just in case it gets colder in the future, I assume.
Occasional op-ed pieces for and against climate change are useful. They're meant for thinking adults to read and debate.
But one-sided nonsense presented as fact to 8-year-old kids? Gimme a break.
Joe Merica
Las Vegas
Water usage
To the editor:
In the Wednesday report, "County to explore using reclaimed water at parks," County Commissioner Steve Sisolak again shows he does not fully understand what happens to wastewater when a toilet is flushed.
Three times he is cited explicitly or implicitly as stating that using treated water for park irrigation is water conservation. Once, Pat Mulroy, head of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, is cited as stating that because nearly all the water taken from Lake Mead is already either recycled to the lake or reused for irrigation, Commissioner Sisolak's proposal does not equate to conservation.
The article has ignorance winning 3 to 1. What does this say about what is needed in Clark County schools?
John Burke
Henderson
Back to basics
To the editor:
What is the purpose of the Clark County School District? Does it teach students to read and write a proper sentence? Does it teach them to understand our system of government? What about mathematics?
If there are only so many hours in the school day, why are they taking up time with things that are the parents' responsibility? Why does the school district employ 38,000 people and only 18,000 of them are teachers? Why do they deserve more money if they are not doing their job properly?
Students are graduating with limited ability to compete in the business world. Their future, and ours, depends on whether they can compete in this global society. It is time to get back to the basics of education, and maybe we will see the needed improvement we are seeking.
Mary Konopka
Las Vegas
Good teachers
To the editor:
As a public school teacher, I am excited by Assembly Bill 555 because I know that I will be evaluated and rewarded for leading my students to success, not by the number of years I teach or degrees I accumulate. But it worries me that there are teachers who oppose AB555.
I know that teachers in Nevada strive to put students first. So as teachers who work relentlessly for student achievement, we should be excited about this bill. By doing our job -- producing results for our students -- we will be rewarded with pay raises and job security.
Numerous studies indicate that a teacher with an advanced degree is no more effective than a teacher without. Raises for increases in student performance (instead of seniority or advanced degrees) will encourage all teachers to do whatever it takes for students to succeed.
The most successful companies perform layoffs by dismissing employees: a) whose product line or service is losing money, or b) who receive low marks on performance evaluations. Schools are not "for profit" organizations, but we are "for achievement" -- and student achievement is the currency in this system. When layoffs are unavoidable, teachers contributing to the highest increases in this currency should be the teachers we keep in classrooms.
AB555 will ensure that schools deliver a top-of-the-line version of Nevada's most valuable commodity: education.
Our state has the opportunity to prove that we will not settle for being ranked 50th in the nation for educational quality. By passing AB555, we will demand that our students gain access to the best teachers and the best education available.
Rachel Warbelow
Henderson
Big winner?
To the editor:
Nice headline on Monday ("Tax code fairness in question"). Very true, especially for gamers here and around the country.
For 2010, I am the happy recipient of $6,500 in W2-Gs. I am the unhappy player who doesn't itemize deductions, so my wins are totally taxable.
Gambling winnings are not earned income unless you are a pro. They shouldn't be another revenue source for our over-spending government, and they should allow corresponding provable losses to be claimed by all winners.
David Lyons
Las Vegas
