All kids deserve a good education

Jeremy Carroll, Las Vegas

Friday, Nov. 8, 2013 | 2:01 a.m.

Joel Silverman’s letter “Tie assistance to school performance” is unique in its lack of understanding as to the difficulties facing poor students, as well as the problems caused by No Child Left Behind that would be exacerbated.

First of all, poor students are already at a significant disadvantage. Funding for schools is partly based on local property taxes, meaning students in affluent areas already receive more funding than students in less affluent areas. The district’s policy allowing teachers to interview to move school sites increases these disadvantages, as high-performing and veteran teachers often prefer to work in suburban, high-performing areas.

Parental involvement absolutely affects student performance. However, many parents in less affluent areas cannot spend the time with their children that affluent parents do, because gross wealth redistribution causes the working poor to work two or more jobs to keep their heads above water. Mr. Silverman’s answer would penalize these students simply for being born poor. Further, cutting food subsidies or housing for these students mimics the problems with NCLB.

Because they are performing poorly, they will be punished. This in turn makes it harder for them to achieve, and the downward spiral gets worse.

There are many other things that could be said about the heartless and ultimately uncharitable views Mr. Silverman’s letter shows. I’d love to leave him with this thought: not all students have the same mental capabilities.

Should parents who give birth to students with learning disabilities lose their housing and food subsidies because their child struggles to learn?

This is not the America I grew up in.