Let me start by writing that I have worked in the school system for 12 years, so I love the idea of being educated which means a lot of different things depending upon the student, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. There are a lot of factors that go into counseling a student. It is not a blanket effect and all kids that come into my office are going to Harvard tomorrow. I am glad we have students interested in cooking, mechanics, carpentry, and other very reputable professions.

That being said, we sit with our 1st grader each night and it is only October  and I am disturbed at the fact that he is doing Algebra? What happened to plus and minus instead of addends and sums? Can you answer the difference between weather and seasons if you only have a worksheet as your guide? What are we doing to our young people?

Testing the hell out of them that is what. Our kids are a test score now and not a student that brings in $6000.00 a year. Why do parents put up with it? Why are our kids just a test score?

Our son has been blessed by being in a private school where his math skills seem to be right on target, but what about those kids who only had  a couple hours of kindergarten. They need the basics and it has been bipassed. Who has made the standards for these kids? They are going to hate school by the time they are in 5th grade. There is no more fun in elementary school.

One more semester and our son will be back in a private school. We are giving the public realm a chance, but I am very disappointed. Did you know that our kids are down to 45 minutes of outside time? If you have a boy you know that sitting for longer than 15 minutes is agony.

I am sickened by what I am seeing in the Clark County School District and how much parents put up with. We are part of the PTA, but the meetings are at 9:15 a.m. so who can make that? Fortunately, I work from home 3 days out of the week so I am going to these meetings and asking a lot of questions as a parent and counselor in this district.

Why are we one of the worst states to get an education? Because we forgot that our kids a living human beings and not just a number on a piece of paper. No Child Left Behind had a good philosophy, but to go to this exteme is an injustice to our kids.

My husband ventures to different schools where he views kids being constantly told to “be quiet” or “not to touch the walls” and even the tone of voice of the teachers is pretty harsh for a little person. The stess of these perfect test scores and standards is wearing on our teachers. What are we doing?

We are hurting our most precious commodity-our kids-our future-and with the economics being what it is we need the precious kids to eventually bail us out.

Something needs to change in the state of Nevada now!