This Assembly Candidate is Not Likely to Get Teachers Union Endorsement

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(Chuck Muth) – Gary Gladwill is the conservative Republican challenging moderate Republican incumbent Assemblyman Tom Grady for his District 38 seat in the Dayton/Yerington rural areas in northern Nevada. Here are some excerpts of Gladwill’s answers to the Nevada Education Association’s questionnaire.

“I believe that public education system in the state of Nevada is there to educate our children to the best of its abilities in an efficient and cost effective manner.”

“Yes I believe that the revenue structure in the state of Nevada is broad and stable enough to support the education system as well as all governmental expenditures; provided the services are based on actual projected revenue instead of unrealistic projections as has been the case in the past. As with private enterprise the government as well as the education system must learn to live within their means, if that means cutting back some programs or increasing class sizes then so be it.”

“ Lets face it the majority of teachers in the system did not go to school to become wealthy, they went to school because teaching is something that they wanted to do. I think the quality of the educators in any system has to do with the competence of the people hiring them and evaluating them, as in the private sector.”

“ In this economic downturn everyone must make sacrifices, it is not a “Right” to get a raise or even a cost of living increase when the economy is struggling like it is Many people in the private sector in the past few years have taken pay-cuts or even been laid off.”

“I am not well informed enough on “No Child Left Behind” to make an informed decision one way or the other. In speaking with people familiar with the education field, they have informed me that there are many Pros and also many cons to the legislation.”

“I would not be averse to giving teachers higher pay in higher risk schools, provided that with higher pay; higher expectations of the teachers work and results would also be expected. I strongly disagree with the wording of your question and the word REQUIRE.”

“I strongly support school vouchers, and believe that in areas where introduced have worked very well. Example: Washington DC.”

“When I was a student in school it is difficult for me to remember when I had a class with less than 20, and more often than not at least 30 children attending. It seems to me that I received a good education. It seems to me that class size is not the issue; disruptive students in the classroom are, perhaps issues besides class size need to be addressed by the legislature.”

“My position on privatization of all positions in government is; ‘If it is in the Yellow Pages’ and can be done more cost effectively by the private sector, then it should be privatized.”

“If the current system is unsustainable with existing revenue sources, then yes I would be willing to evaluate areas to save money to keep the system viable. Better to have a reduction in benefits than no benefits at all.”

“Side Note: I believe that your association has focused too much on the ‘Keeping up with the Jones’ mentality. I hear non-stop redirect from the teachers association that our funding should be the same or better than other states, if so then why then does Utah have lower per student spending, yet higher test scores?

“I believe that instead of politicizing all of these issues perhaps your association should get down to the business of educating our children with the money at hand. Revenue is not always the answer, and total job and wage security is not always a ‘right’ I know that your organization has an agenda, but I believe that It is time for everyone to come to the bargaining table with some concessions.

“If this is any consolation I do stand with you on one issue under your concerns: I would also like to see more decision making at the local level in the education system. The closer the government is to the people the more effective it becomes.”

Any bets on whether or not Mr. Gladwill will get the union’s seal of approval and endorsement?