Four-hour education forum set for Thursday

Susie Stratton would like to see more children sent home with homework.

The orthopedic technician and part-time alternative sentencing official will be a panel member at Thursday's Parents for Quality Education Forum, the second this year organized by a group who seeks discussion of education issues from those in the profession.

"The question is more about parents being involved in school activities," said Stratton, who has a child attending Minden Elementary School in Douglas County, where there is an after-school homework club.

"I understand that parents work, but there's a lot of things you can still do outside of the classroom," Stratton added.

The forum begins in the Legislative Building at 4:30 p.m.

"It's later (in the day) because the biggest criticism we had was we missed a whole bunch of people because they're working or in school," said Ann Bednarski, coordinator for Parents for Quality Education.

"I anticipate we're going to have a lot more people at this one than at the last one," Bednarski said.

Wally Earhart, known locally for his portrayals of Abraham Lincoln, is the moderator. Panel members, according to Bednarski, include state Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas; Janice Wright, senior deputy state treasurer; Doug Thunder, representing the Nevada State Board of Education; Marilee Swirczek, an English instructor at Western Nevada Community College; Carson City teachers, students and principals; Leticia Senda, president of Carson Latino Parents; and a member of the Carson City School District board of trustees.

"Our theme is parent participation and student involvement," said Bednarski.

"We believe and actually have a lot of research to back it up that if you expect more of students, you will get more and that has been tried and true."

Each panelist was given a series of questions as preparation, but the format of the event is to take questions from the public.

Bednarski said she expects some of those questions to come from parents new to the school district and parents of home-schooled children.

"At least, that's who we've heard from," she said.

The first forum, July 26, was taped and later aired on cable television.

n Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.