Columnist Bill Hanlon: Legislative Committee on Education improvement needed

PUBLIC EDUCATION NATIONWIDE is literally being assaulted by copycat legislation that sounds more political than educational.

Many problems that classroom teachers and school administrators have to contend with come from attitudes developed at home. Other problems come from governors and state legislators who believe they have found education's cure-all.

There is no single, simple solution that will fix the problems being faced by educators.

All too frequently, state legislators are looking for the "quick" fix and turning their backs on statistics. They want a great sound bite for the evening news to convey they are for higher educational standards, increased student achievement and safe and drug free schools. Well, who isn't?

Nevada has been criticized by a number of states because it is going to test new standards the same year it implements them. There are many who are so stunned that they laugh nervously. That nervousness is a result of copycat legislation. If one state enacts legislation, then other states jump on the bandwagon or try to "one-up" it without considering the consequences.

I thought the creation of the Legislative Committee on Education through Nevada's Educational Reform Act would protect Nevadans from embracing foolish legislation. Unfortunately, the committee is not meeting often enough to discuss issues. And when it does meet, there are no signs of intelligent discussion or debate.

The committee, headed by Sen. Bill Raggio, includes Assemblymen Richard Perkins and Wendell Williams, who have distinguished themselves by their absence. To be fair, they might see this committee as a dog-and-pony show and choose not to participate.

With the exception of Assemblywoman Marcia de Braga, the rest of the committee might as well not show up. De Braga has taken the time to study the issues and comes prepared. Assemblyman Pat Hickey and Sens. Maurice Washington, Jack Regan and Ray Rawson don't ask questions. This committee, and these legislators in particular, have been a real disappointment.

A good example was the lack of give and take when it recommended a bill to require students pass an exam in the eighth grade before going on to high school. Philosophically, I agree with that -- students should be held accountable. And yes, it's also a great sound bite.

But what was not discussed speaks volumes about the committee's lack of understanding of the issue and its greater concern for a great sound bite.

It just seems the following questions should have been discussed: What is the expected failure rate? With already over crowded classrooms, where do you find seats for students who have been retained because they failed the test? How many opportunities would students have to take the test? Would summer school be provided? How about transportation to summer school if it is provided? What is the cost of summer school? Would any particular populations be affected disproportionately? How might parents feel if a 15- or 16-year-old student in eighth grade asks their sixth-grader on a date? Would safety be an issue with older students attending school with younger ones?

This is a standing committee and it truly has the potential to address -- in a timely manner -- the consequences of legislation before it becomes law. Without asking those questions, we have no answers. How can that recommendation move forward?

With about 50 percent of the state budget going to education, this would seem to be an important committee. If Perkins and Williams don't have the interest or the time to attend, they should resign. Hickey, Regan, Rawson and Washington should either actively take part in the discussions or they should show the same courtesy as Perkins and Williams and save the taxpayers the plane fare and per diem by not showing up.

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