Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

GUEST COLUMN:

It’s time to make changes in education

Editor’s note: About 450 Clark County high school students participated in the annual Sun Youth Forum on Nov. 8 at Liberty High School. The students were divided into groups to discuss several topics. A spokesperson was chosen from each discussion group to write a column about the students’ findings. Valincia Hill, a senior at College of Southern Nevada High School - East Campus, tells of the students’ opinions in the session entitled “School Days.”

Student representative Valincia Hill, of College of Southern Nevada High School, poses during the 64th annual Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum at Liberty High School in Henderson, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.

Student representative Valincia Hill, of College of Southern Nevada High School, poses during the 64th annual Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum at Liberty High School in Henderson, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.

Despite being home to one of the largest school districts in the country, Nevada is ranked 48th among all states in education. My peers and I discussed the challenges facing the state’s education system at the Sun Youth Forum. We come from a variety of unique backgrounds, cultures and religions, but despite these differences, we all agreed that Nevada’s education system is outdated and must adjust to fit modern standards and the needs of current and future students.

Adults sometimes believe teenagers don’t pay attention to the politics or details of curriculum, but numerous members of our group discussed how our teachers have little freedom to adapt their curriculum to their class size or the different types of learners in the classroom. As a result, students who are more visual learners, musical learners, creative learners, students with 504 plans, students with individualized education programs (IEPs), and kinesthetic learners are left out or left behind. Moreover, the lack of flexibility makes creativity and inspiration difficult for our teachers.

Add in the increasing number of disruptions to class time and it becomes clear why our education system ranks so poorly.

As we discussed solutions to these challenges, our best proposals revolved around simplifying the rules that govern schools and respecting the time, energy, and importance of teachers.

Nevada schools should simplify the hiring process so it is easier to recruit teachers. Schools should allow more time and flexibility to teach the curriculum — improving teacher culture and letting teachers do what they do best.

Students, parents, administrators and politicians alike should value teachers more and hear their concerns without blatant disrespect. We can also incentivize great teachers by recognizing and rewarding great teaching and caring about morale on days other than just Teacher Appreciation Day or Educators Week.

Teachers also need to be given the authority to instructabout responsibility and accountability in meaningful ways.

The group admitted that many students abuse the minimum F policy. The minimum F policy forces teachers to give a student at least a 50% on all assignments — even those that are not completed.

The result is that many students only complete summative assessments and big assignments, comfortable in the knowledge that with a minimum score of 50% in all other coursework, they are unlikely to fail.

While we don’t support eliminating the minimum F policy, it must be reformed to promote student accountability for their work and ensure that students are learning the material. Teachers should help shape this policy, as they are in the classroom and are responsible for teaching and grading.

Finally, everyone in our group agreed that students deserve the right to access knowledge and engage in free expression. That includes a student’s right to access information about and express their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Schools need more gender-neutral bathrooms so students of all identities can feel safe and included. Additionally, the group discussed the need for a more advanced health education class that covers society’s normative health standards and issues related to sexuality, gender and inclusion.

My group also specifically discussed giving students freedom of expression by loosening restrictive dress codes and allowing students, within reason, to wear the clothing they feel most comfortable wearing. Simple accommodations are vital to protecting LGBTQ+ students in an educational environment.

I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss these issues with each member of my group at the Sun Youth Forum, and I am heartened that we all agree that Nevada’s students and educational staff deserve more.

The education system will not fix itself in a day, but conversations such as those at the youth forum are necessary to enact change. We need it. My generation, and the next, need change for the better.