A Fair Shake for Schoolkids

And a Helping Hand for the Blind

Senate Republican Whip Lisa Krasner, armed with the conviction of a missionary and the determination of a Missouri mule, has set forth a pair of education bills that aim to patch up some of the holes in Nevada’s schoolhouse roof.

The first, Senate Bill 272, takes dead aim at a rule that presently leaves students twiddling their thumbs for 180 days after transferring schools, barring them from playing sports or joining extracurricular activities as if they had committed some grave offense. Krasner’s proposal would let students skip that purgatory if they can show they transferred due to emotional distress—a term broad enough to cover everything from genuine hardship to the peculiar torments of adolescence.

The bill also throws a lifeline to the children of military families, ensuring they don’t lose precious time on the field or stage simply because Uncle Sam decided to shuffle their parents elsewhere.

“Every student deserves a fair chance,” said Krasner, picturing forlorn teenagers sidelined from glory. “This bill ensures that no student is left behind due to circumstances outside of their control.”

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 357 takes up the cause of students with visual impairments, mandating that the State Board of Education lay down clear standards for teaching Braille and providing assistive technology. In plain terms, she wants students to have more to rely on than good intentions and crossed fingers.

“Education should be accessible to every student,” Krasner declared, as if anyone in polite company might dare to disagree.

Whether these bills will sail smoothly through the legislative waters or sink beneath the weight of political wrangling remains to be seen. But for now, Senator Krasner has thrown down the gauntlet, and the matter rests with those august lawmakers who will decide whether Nevada’s students deserve a fair shake—or just more of the same.