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Steve Sebelius
State's economic development plan falls short on education
There's plenty to like in Nevada's new economic development plan, "Moving Nevada Forward."
For the first time, the state is trying to fashion an integrated strategy for growing commerce, geared toward Nevada's strengths. It takes into account geographical differences. And it holds officials accountable for fixing things along the way.
The concept of economic development authorities that do more than use taxpayer dollars to stage high-school level advertising pranks that do little more than facilitate petty political tantrums is a welcome change, too.
Gov. Brian Sandoval has taken center stage on the plan, putting his personal credibility on the line, something that none of his predecessors have done. If we thrive, or if we stumble, Sandoval has put himself center stage for bouquets or brickbats.
But there are a couple of holes in the plan, too, having to do with education.
First, there's a vision of education -- from K-12 through the university system -- that seems severely limited.
"Nevadans must have the education and skills necessary to fill high-quality jobs," the report reads. "Our future success depends on developing and sustaining an excellent and efficient education system that is aligned with the programs that develop skill sets with the sectors that produce jobs."
And while it's true that a good education prepares students to enter the workforce, it's not true that all education is vocational education. A vision of schools as places where we train future cogs in the machines of commerce is a short-sighted and even vulgar approach to education.
In the ideal, education exists to awaken the minds of students to the world around them, to give students the tools to explore that world and then to guide that exploration as young people find themselves and decide what it is they want to do with their lives.
In some cases, yes, that will be to design solar panels made here in Nevada, or learn information technology that leads to the next generation of casino games. But in many cases, education will take students to places that have little commercial application in Nevada. And that isn't a distraction, a waste or inefficiency. It's success, measured in enlightenment.
Too often, officials and business executives in Nevada have seen schools as little more than factories to produce workers who know just enough to keep our neon machine purring, but not enough that they might aspire to something more. To the extent that this plan envisions anything like that, it's dead wrong.
But we've gotten ahead of ourselves. Because while the plan throws plenty of money around for catalyst funds ($10 million), regional development incentives ($50,000), entrepreneurship incentives ($150,000), regional development plans ($250,000) and state small business credits ($13.8 million), the plan contains not one thin dime for improving education.
How, pray tell, are schools even supposed to become places to equip children with the "skill sets" to find jobs in the state's future economy if they're underperforming with the money they get now? And while the report touts Sandoval-led changes to teacher tenure and last-in, first-out layoff practices, it doesn't suggest how Nevada schools are expected to perform with their current level of funding.
Perhaps the authors believe that with a booming economy will come more money for schools, although that's somewhat dubious, since non-casino businesses in Nevada currently pay no taxes on revenue. And Sandoval has come out firmly against efforts to change that, either in the Legislature or at the ballot box.
There's no question Nevada needs economic development. This plan has some good ideas in it. But the state simply will not reach its goal without properly addressing education, both in funding and philosophy.
Steve Sebelius is a Review-Journal political columnist and author of the blog SlashPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter (@SteveSebelius) or reach him at (702) 387-5276 or ssebelius@reviewjournal.com.
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Um... and how exactly would pouring even more money into the waste hole that is the CCSD and NSHE IMPROVE education in Nevada? I'm at a loss.
Miles, I agree teachers need to stand up, but in this right-to-work state that's difficult and dangerous. If it's not done collectively, you are opening yourself up to daily harassment if you speak out. As for non-English-speaking kids, the newest trend is that, at least in some places, they will be joining regular classes without the prerequisite language skills to understand the teacher. But you're right; until teachers stand up, every harebrained scheme that comes along will be tried by ignorant administrators who want to fill their resumes with all the programs they've tried so they can continue climbing the ladder no matter how clueless they are, and no matter how much damage they do. Since this has been going on for at least a decade without teachers standing up (the association here is pitiful), I doubt it's going to happen. But that's what happen when you bully teachers, and this school district is so full of low-aptitude bullies in high places that it's difficult to believe. I don't think the public would believe what goes on. I don't think they're aware of how cowed and beaten down teachers are here. That's not good for students, either.
Wow, Minden, what an ignorant response. I think you totally missed the point, which is that an education system that bases the hiring of teachers only on how expensive or cheap they are will lose much talent in favor of inexperience - and experience means a lot in education. But when somebody holds ignorant opinions and will not be swayed by reality, the result is the sort of comment you made. How you construed this as me being a "greedy unionized me-firster" is beyond belief, but not an uncommon sort of sentiment among ignorant people. But don't worry; people of your ilk are helping to destroy public education. Soon you'll have to send your kids to charters. It won't be choice; it'll be necessity, because the public schools are being murdered by a coalition of ignorant people like you and the real greedy people - the ones who want to turn the schools into a profit industry.
@Miles. The only problem with your idea of teachers refusing to teach students with limited English skills is that it is illegal. If a student comes to school, we have to educate them. The idea of charging students who fail would require a change to state law.
Sherm's blog is up to 88 comments, yours has 12. There could be an argument over quality vs. quantity. Obamacare is red meat to a bunch of underwear clad basement dwellers. (and we don't have basements in Vegas). People don't care about education because they think it is for "Mexicans."
Steve,
Not surprisingly, it took someone of your insightfulness to point out that it's time to stop thinking of education as nothing more than a training program for a workforce. I'm completely sick of hearing politicians of every stripe continually equating education with workforce. Of course, if teachers were given the opportunity to teach critical thinking skills, most kids would come to realize that they're being raised by simple minded nitwits who themselves have no value for a real education.
The end result of that kind of thinking is a population of people like Minden63 who think that teachers are nothing but greedy "me firsters"....right M63...they're going to make themselves insanely rich by getting a five or ten percent raise. Sad that you not only begrudge teachers a decent salary, but also would deny students an education that amounts to anything more than drone training.
@mrs ed ---- Why do insist on constantly making yourself look so, so "STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPID ?????"
Students aren't accountable for their work. Teachers aren't accountable for their work and parents aren't accountable for the values they instill in their offspring. When these dynamics are in play you could aim a firehose of cash at the schools and it won't make a difference. If you want parents to be accountable send them a bill for the cost to educate their children when they fail. Teachers, stand up and refuse to educate children who arrive at school without proper English skills. That should get the K-12 system back in working order.
It's way past time to clean the liberals out of education. http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/stossel/sites/foxbusiness.com.on-air.stossel/files/STOSSEL_CHART_COST_OF_AN_EDUCATION_4_0.JPG
Where has the money gone?
Far, far, right? LOL