It's Rescue 911 for Carson City's schools

Rescue our Schools, 911.

"This is dispatcher Moffett. Please state your emergency."

"This is Mr. Smith at the high school. We've had an accident in a science class. A student got chemicals in her eyes and there's no eyewash to rinse them out - please hurry!"

"You don't have an eyewash?"

"We don't even have a lab room - please hurry!"

"Do you have textbooks?"

"Yes, but..."

"Relax, you're in good shape. Just have the student hold a textbook to her eye and everything will be fine."

I've never seen a better argument for teaching logic than Nannette Moffett's views on the bond proposal. Her suggestion that bond money be allocated for textbooks rather than desperately needed school building improvements is one of the most ludicrous ideas ever.

Vote-No Nanette's "reasoning" goes something like this:

a. Schools throughout the district need infrastructural upgrades.

b. The state doesn't fund school construction or facilities improvements, so a prudent way to raise the money for such upgrades comes from a bond issue that won't raise taxes.

therefore...

c. Let's buy more textbooks!

Ms. Moffett's fixation on textbooks is frightening, and her disregard for the well-being of students is outrageous. Textbooks don't teach children. Teachers teach children, and in a well-managed, dynamic classroom, even the children take on roles in teaching each other. However, it's impossible to have such an effective learning environment if it is too cold, too hot, too drafty, or unsafe.

Students do not need the most current version of every textbook. The core ideas that we teach children don't drastically change. I recently saw the most recent edition of the "outdated" book that my students have, and all the publisher had done was change the picture on the cover, and make mostly cosmetic changes inside.

It even contained the same factual errors as the old edition. This is not unique to this book or its publisher.

Do we really want a bond issue for that? If one wants to keep up with the latest details in their subject area, a $1,000 computer that can access reliable web sites is less expensive, and probably more current and accurate than a set of textbooks for every student.

I'm all for fiscal responsibility. However, when it comes to the safety and comfort of our children, it is irresponsible to try to derail a very thorough, well-conceived plan for critical school improvement with such a non-issue as textbook availability.

"Ms. Moffett, this is Mrs. Jones at the elementary school. My classroom is freezing. The children are starting to turn blue. Can you please get behind the bond issue?"

"Don't they have textbooks?"

"Um...yes..."

"Well, then have them huddle together and build a tent out of their textbooks. That should provide enough insulation. Besides, kids are flexible, and I don't think a little hypothermia will bother them."

"I've got a better idea: Let's scrounge together all the copies of your past editorials on education and we can burn them for warmth."