The following was sent to Assemblymen Ed Goedhart and Barbara Buckley, state Sen. Steven A. Horsfrord and the office of Gov. Jim Gibbons.

Dear Respected Representative:

It is no secret to any person that the economic downturn in our country has affected Americans of every socioeconomic status. It is also clear that many changes need to be made to make sure the usage of tax dollars is done responsibly and ethically.

There has been much debate in our state regarding future funding options for our public schools. More personally, the county in which I reside, Nye County, is considering cutting funds from primary and secondary education system due to budget shortfalls. Although no K-12 schools are likely to close, class sizes will be increased and teachers and support staff will be let go from their positions within the district. You can not allow this to happen.

Increased class sizes at any level, especially primary level, decrease a child's ability to learn and flourish. Children who are having trouble as well as those who are exceeding in scholastic endeavors will be lost because our overworked teachers will have no time to give any children the individual attention they need. Our young people will suffer the consequences.

Many sacrifices need to be made on all fronts to help turn the economy around, but is cutting and slashing educational budgets the answer? I say no. I am imploring you, as a concerned parent of a child in the Nye County school system, to do everything in your power to keep this from happening. Perhaps I am asking the impossible. To that I ask, aren't our children worth making the impossible a reality?

A poorly educated child will grow up to be a poorly educated adult. We are mortgaging the future if these cuts go through. Our children did not create this fiscal nightmare and deserve to be immune from the fall out.

We protect children from disease, poverty, violence and other crime. Now is the time to protect them from ignorance. The most important legacy we will leave this country is our children. Do not let them suffer from the mess left by your predecessors.

The motto "Yes we can" has been adopted by many throughout the country since the last election season.

Well, is it true? Can we make a difference? Can we change? Can we get this country back on its feet? I truly hope we can.

Nobody, no matter how intelligent or well spoken, can solve our woes alone, but I know that creating a society of children and young adults that have not been given the educational skills to make them great Americans is not the answer. Please help our kids now to create the future we all dream about and work to create.