Consider Oregon’s planfor offering college credits

I was reading an article recently about the Luna laws.

I moved here from Portland. In Portland, Salem, Eugene and other towns in Oregon where there are colleges, the high schools let the students take classes in one of their colleges.

I realize that not all counties in Idaho have access to colleges, but it is a good thing in Oregon to let students take college classes in the town that they live in. That way, they get a one-on-one with the college professors, and if they are having trouble with a certain subject, then the instructor is right there to help them out.

Why can’t they do that here in Idaho?

Ada and Canyon counties have plenty of colleges for students to go to in order to take college classes and they could get college credits also besides getting credits for high school.

LARRY SPURLING, Caldwell

Election doesn’t solveIdaho’s education woes

Idaho schools are at risk. Idaho ranks 41st nationally in the percentage of students who progress from ninth grade to college completion; 44th in the number of students who obtain a college degree; 45th in the percent of adults with an associate degree or better; and 47th in the number of high school grads who go on to college. And yet the IEA, NEA, and professional teachers seem opposed to teacher change and educational reform. Recently, they fought the Idaho Legislature attempts to reform and improve Idaho schools.

It is clear, if we don’t change the conditions, we won’t change the results. Idaho desperately needs teacher change and educational reform. Holding Idaho educational professionals accountable to reform and improve Idaho schools is a good starting point, beginning with the educational colleges at BSU, U of I and Idaho State.

When Superintendent Luna advanced three proposals to reform and improve Idaho schools, the IEA, NEA and local Idaho teachers fought with all their might to oppose these educational reforms.

They seemed more concerned with maintaining the status quo than helping to reform and improve Idaho schools.

MORRIS BASTIAN, Boise

Lawmakers could overturnwishes of Idaho voters

Do you remember that the citizens of Idaho have twice voted in favor of term limits for our elected public officials? Twice the Idaho Legislature has ignored the wishes of the people and their votes.

With the defeat of Props 1, 2 and 3, it will be interesting to see if they will again ignore the will of the people.

There is no doubt that the citizens of Idaho appreciate the hard work and dedication of our teachers and public school administrators. It’s unfortunate that our Legislature seems not to. If you care about the future of your children, please contact your recently elected official and tell them you will be watching how they deal with our voice.

ANDY HEDDEN-NICELY, Boise

Voters made right call

I am relieved to see the Idaho public step up and say no to this callous and shallow attempt at education reform.

I lived in Louisiana for years, and can tell you, many of the so-called education reform byproducts like charter schools, vouchers and teacher accountability mandates (for example) are just concrete examples of passing the buck on the backs of the hardest-working people I know — teachers. I mean, they may be in a high-performing or a low-performing school, but teachers always get kicked in the head and are on call basically from the moment they walk on campus to the moment they run the heck off to catch happy hour.

I congratulate the love of my life for working to shape the future minds of students. She, like many others in her field, has the most important job I can think of.

ALEX BROUSSARD, Caldwell

A cause worth celebrating

Many in Idaho are celebrating the demise of Propositions 1, 2 and 3 in the recent election. Tremendous thanks to those individuals who worked tirelessly to bring these propositions down.

Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa deserves a lot of credit for ensuring Idahoans had the information they needed to make their voting decisions. Ysursa stood up for Idaho’s Sunshine Law, which requires disclosure of annual contributions over $50 by individuals and corporations. By doing so, he shed light on the shadowy groups behind these propositions.

This action stands out as a fine example of nonpartisanship that deserves thanks. As a longtime resident of Boise, a parent, voter and Democrat, I offer mine.

LINDA CROZIER, Boise

Let educators helpimprove our system

I’d like to thank my Idaho friends and neighbors for voting down Propositions 1, 2 and 3. Mr. Luna’s plan to “reform” education was never about placing our children first, but about placing the budget first. Do we want to give our future Idaho leaders the cheapest education or the best education for the money we can spend?

If we want to make real change in Idaho’s education, let’s get the opinion and support of our trained experts: both local and national educational thought leaders.

Politicians with no educational background and the salesman pushing educational software are not experts in education! Let’s find evidence-based ways to improve our system, partner with our dedicated local educators and work together to provide high quality public education in Idaho.

SUSAN P. GREENE, Boise

Lessons for Luna

Good job Idaho.

Voting down Props 1, 2 and 3 was the right thing to do! Pay attention, Mr. Luna.

A good leader surrounds himself with people who understand the issues and makes good decisions on sound advice. This is not a weights and measures issue, as Idaho voters clearly told you with their vote on Nov. 6.

Please involve the stakeholders in any future plans for the children of Idaho. Rather than seeking funding from your friends at Melaleuca and in New York City to fund anti-teacher ads, you could get them to fund scholarships or purchase technology for classrooms.

Maybe it’s time to find the additional funding for education you spoke of in your 2010 campaign, and tell the “good old boys club” you are not working for them anymore. Time to get to work for Idaho and its future. If 1, 2 and 3 are your legacy, next election you will find yourself alongside them in the trash heap of history.

DAVID SMITH, Meridian

Power of parents, voters

Apparently Rep. John Rusche did not get the message from the voters when he threatened the teachers’ union “not to overplay their hand,” as reported in the Statesman’s Nov. 8 article. It was not the power of the union that defeated Props 1, 2 and 3. It was the power of the parents and voters.

He should take heed.

GENE N. HAIN, Boise

An unnecessary election

The public made its opinion about Props 1, 2 and 3 very clear in 2011, when the Legislature was meeting. Why did it take this election and millions of dollars spent for it to be understood?

DOTTIE HAMON, Boise