A Nevada Globe reader sent me a private message highlighting what her 7-year-old was given as a reading assignment at Goolsby Elementary in Summerlin.  The 2nd grade students were to read the following paragraphs every day for 7 days and were then tested on their speed and comprehension.

According to an opinion piece by Victor Joecks n the Las Vegas Review Journal (RJ), “District officials didn’t respond to my requests for comment, including whether the assignment was part of district curriculum or not.”

In a phone interview with The Nevada Globe, the mother expressed her disappointment in the silence of Clark County School District (CCSD) officials and still had questions as to whether or not this assignment was approved CCSD curriculum. She has asked to remain anonymous and is hesitant to contact the school’s principal for fear of retribution. She has not noticed this type of homework from her other children attending Goolsby. With hopes to transfer her children out of the school, she made phone calls to nearby private schools, however those schools are not accepting new students.

The CCSD released a statement back in June on behalf of the district and Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara.

The statement addresses widespread “pushback” to critical race theory and says it has been used for “political advantage.”

“Critics and some state legislatures have now bundled nearly every discussion involving race and equity under this heading and cast it as divisive, unpatriotic, and un-American. In fact, our schools have a moral and patriotic obligation to teach a balanced and comprehensive history of our nation, including events that others have hidden or conveniently avoided,” the statement.

A balanced and comprehensive history is what many parents seek, and what many parents are finding and protesting against is the lack of a balanced and comprehensive education. This homework, according to many parents at Goolsby,  is a shocking example of imbalance. The mother of the 2nd grader stated, “This is hate, not history.”

Due to the lack of response from CCSD to the RJ, The Nevada Globe has pursued a comment from District officials within the Communications department.  I was referred to the Communications department by a Goolsby employee, as well as Curriculum employees within CCSD.

Public education is exactly that. Public. Public dollars beget public input, scrutiny and transparency. The Nevada Globe will continue to press for transparency in order to provide parents ,who fund CCSD’s $2.5 billion budget, with the transparency, accountability, and responsibility that CCSD is seemingly avoiding.