I have been associated with Idaho elementary and secondary schools as a teacher, counselor, administrator, legislator and school choice advocate for over a half century. The changes I have witnessed in that span are many and significant, but not all for the better.
The most obvious changes are the physical condition in which our students attend school. For the most part schools have been modernized with better lighting, heating and in general are much more attractive places than at any time in our history. Today they are better equipped. Class sizes are significantly smaller. Additionally, our teachers are much better compensated than ever and certification standards for teachers are higher than ever before.
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According to the leaders of Idaho’s education labor union, the Idaho Education Association (IEA), online education is wrong for Idaho students. If you have followed the testimony offered at the public hearings, recently held around the state, you might have come away with the same belief. In reality, the union’s objection to digital learning has nothing to do with the quality of education. It has everything to do with the union’s desire to maintain it’s monopoly. The movement to require a couple of on-line courses in order to graduate is not, in and of itself, revolutionary. But the IEA knows it has to block online learning. Why? read more…
Recently in this newspaper there appeared an article written by Larry Grant, Chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party, in which he lamented the fact that he had to pay an athletic fee of $75 so his grandson could play football. He further blasted the Republican Legislature for not properly funding Idaho k-12 education. He cited the many hardships placed on parents and school districts because of the lack of funding of our k-12 school system. He even referenced our constitution in which it is stated that it is the responsibility of the legislature to provide a thorough, free education for our children. He went so far as to suggest that the reason the Republican controlled legislature has not provided enough funding is that the Republican Party wants our public schools to fail. That is quite a stretch since the legislature has been controlled by Republicans for many, many years and every one of those years the Republican legislature has always put k-12 education at the front of the appropriation line. Every year k-12 education has received about 50% of the general fund proceeds. Chairman Grant knows better than to make such an outlandish statement, but he is simply parroting the union line, “all we need to improve schools is more money!” If he insists on speaking for the union he will continue to take his party down the path to obscurity. read more…
Recently in this newspaper there appeared an article by Wayne Hoffman about a little known travesty that needs unveiling, attention and correction. That travesty is the allowance of private union members to participate in the public employee retirement system. Mr. Hoffman’s article brought out the issue upon the retirement of Sheri Wood from the position of president of the Idaho Teacher’s Union. (IEA) This blog posting is in no way critical of Sheri as she is simply using the “system” that the legislature has made available to her. In fact I wish her well but wish that the legislature would begin the process in 2012 to correct this travesty that has a long history. read more…
Recently, the President of the Teacher’s Union Sheri Wood (IEA) stated, “we will never give up our continuing contract (tenure)!” While there are a host of items in the three school reform bills passed by the 2011 legislature none are as onerous to the teacher’s union than the loss of continuing contract. Efforts to change teacher contract law have been numerous over the years, but never has there been a law that eliminates tenure, until now. Even though the legislation does not take away tenure from those teachers who have already acquired it, (there is a grandfather clause for current teachers) the union recognizes that in just a few short years tenure or continuing contract will go away for all teachers. read more…
The teacher’s union was able to secure enough signatures to place the repeal of S.B. 1184 on the November 2012 ballot. What is so onerous about this legislation? When the electorate is aware of the components of this legislation they too will wonder what the “fuss” is all about. Following is a list of the critical components of the legislation: read more…
For the past 40+ years the Idaho Teachers Union (Idaho Education Association) and their local affiliates have bargained very lucrative contracts with most Idaho School Districts. All of those contracts with their very attractive employee packages goes away with Senate Bill 1108. read more…
Prior to Senate Bill 1108 teacher’s and administrator’s evaluations, were in most school districts, based upon input items and not on the output (learning) of their students. The old law simply suggested to school trustees that their teachers and administrators shall be evaluated, but did not prescribe any criteria for such evaluation. Thus the evaluation was primarily one that used activities and strategies that the teacher or administrator used for determining their strengths or weaknesses. read more…
Not surprisingly, the leaders of the teacher’s union hired paid signature gatherers who managed to secure enough signatures to put education reform on the 2012 ballot. That means voters will decide whether to retain the school reform measures that Superintendent Luna, Governor Otter and a host of courageous legislators were able to move through the 2011 legislative session or schools going back to doing business as usual. Over the next 17 months the union will spend, perhaps a million dollars or more, to convince the Idaho electorate that these education reform measurers are bad for kids, bad for parents and bad for the taxpayer. When the truth is known the Idaho electorate will know and understand that the exact opposite is true. read more…
The headline attributed to the Nampa teacher’s union president in this newspaper of June 8th will be repeated in assorted ways by union members over the next 17 months. The headline, “NEA Chief Blames Luna Bills For District Cuts” is a great example of things to come. These union leaders such as Angie Spracher, head of the local teacher’s union will only tell their side of the “story.” read more…
