“Memo from the Middle” is an opinion column by RGJ columnist Pat Hickey, who was a member of the Nevada Legislature from 1996 to 2016.
Nevadans who think independently love the right to choose. We like to choose where we live, how we work and how we spend our money. We prefer to choose how we worship, who we love, and how we marry. As recent election results show, we are increasingly inclined to vote who we vote, turning away from traditional political parties that tell us what our voting preferences should be.
Certainly a majority of women today insist on freedom of choice for their reproductive rights. Most men agree. The same is true of families’ educational choices for their children. The growing problem of school choice is far more than just school vouchers or funds following children. It’s now part of the way families in Nevada and elsewhere make educational decisions.
let me explain. Most parents decide where their children go to school within their means. Ask a real estate agent what questions are typically asked by families looking for a new home. “How are the schools in the area?” is usually their first question. Parents—whether they’re looking for schools with language immersion programs, smaller teacher-to-student ratios, or a parish school that strengthens their religious values—all make decisions that they believe will yield the best outcomes for their children’s future.
Education is primarily the responsibility of parents and not just of society, which organizes itself around the families that form a community. So it should come as no surprise that the issue of school choice has become a far greater driving force than any current electoral rhetoric or political agenda, which any political side can either support or oppose.
Choices are a sign of our times. Schools and the way we raise our children are becoming as big a problem as any. It is no exaggeration to say that how we deal with this will determine much of our future destiny as a state.
There are already a number of educational opportunities. Most of them existed before incoming governor Joe Lombardo called for more “school choice” in his first state speech. like dr Jeff Hinton, former Nevada Teacher of the Year, wrote: “We need to embrace the diversity of different learning models and educational philosophies that are emerging. Families must be able to choose models that suit their preferences and their (children’s) needs.”
For example, local school districts such as WCSD already allow variances and inter-district transfers for families seeking a school that best meets the needs of their students beyond their localized school. The district has magnet programs, signature academies, professional and technical training opportunities, and even charter schools like Coral Academy and ACE High School. Parents with a passion for educational diversity can find options for their children if they are persistent enough.
Public charter schools are among the fastest growing schools in the state. These tuition-free public schools, which often have smaller classes and individual school boards able to create a more focused academic environment, are increasingly becoming an option for students and teachers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown many parents what is going on in their children’s classrooms. Virtual education was a disappointment for many families (and for overall academic progress), and some parents turned to homeschooling and an innovative twist on that model: microschooling, in which smaller groups of students hire a teacher to meet their individual educational needs .
Private school offers already exist. Nevada has experimented with “opportunity scholarships,” which allow students from less-affluent families to apply for money to tuition at the private schools of their choice. Some private schools, such as Cristo Rey in North Las Vegas, chaired by Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar, have partnered with Nevada corporations to provide tuition for deserving minority students.
Obviously some things are missing in our approach to education. According to the US Department of Education, the number of district administrators has increased by 87.6%, while the student population has grown by 7.6% from 2000 to 2019, and that of teachers by 8.7% over the same period. No wonder changes are being called for.
Nevadans prefer choice. You’ve said it over and over again in your personal and professional life. There’s no reason not to say it just as strongly when it comes to education. It is our children’s future. How many more important decisions are there?
“Memo from the Middle” is an opinion column by RGJ columnist Pat Hickey, who was a member of the Nevada Legislature from 1996 to 2016.
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