Upside-down grades

When is an F really an A? When the grades are issued by an organization with little credibility and apparently no worries that its reputation is in fast decline among both the voting public and its own membership.

That’s the takeaway from the Nevada State Education Association’s report card for state lawmakers. The state’s largest public employee union, which has long made protecting the jobs of bad teachers its highest priority, on Monday flunked every Republican in the Legislature — all 26. They dared support collective bargaining and tenure reforms, and they opposed massive, job-killing tax increases.

If ever there were a sign that legislative Republicans were pursuing legislation that would actually improve public education in Nevada, this is it.

Among the flunked: Assemblyman Scott Hammond, R-Las Vegas, and Assemblywoman Melissa Woodbury, R-Las Vegas, who both happen to be Clark County School District teachers. Seven Democrats were given D’s — and not as shorthand for their party affiliation — including Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz of North Las Vegas, a Clark County School District teacher, and Assemblywoman Marilyn Dondero Loop of Las Vegas, a retired school district educator.

“As the teachers union continues to frame the education debate about what’s best for the adults, Senate Republicans remain committed to asking what is in the best interest of … the students,” the GOP caucus responded in a statement.

An A on this report card, meanwhile, is a scarlet letter symbolizing opposition to accountability. Assemblymen Kelvin Atkinson, Richard Carillo, William Horne and Tick Segerblom; Assemblywomen Maggie Carlton, Dina Neal and Peggy Pierce; and Sens. Shirley Breeden, Ruben Kihuen, Mark Manendo, David Parks and Mike Schneider, move to the back of the class.

Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, meanwhile, rightfully took pride in his grade: “I’m going to wear my F as a badge of honor.”