West Ada stripping away First Amendment rights with vague policy | Opinion
West Ada
The West Ada School District cites today’s “political environment” as reason to censor teachers. As a student leader in this district, I know that stripping us and our teachers of our First Amendment rights is the exact opposite of what this political environment needs.
The story that West Ada School District teacher Sarah Inama courageously shared with KTVB is just one example of how harmful policies like West Ada’s policy 401.20 are.
This policy is so ambiguous that it allows individuals to arbitrarily decide what is political. The district has shown they will enforce this policy in the name of politics—with no regard for the best interest of students.
Censorship does not foster a positive learning environment. It strips classrooms of the critical conversations that prepare us for the future.
To the West Ada School District: Your students are watching. We demand you restore First Amendment rights to our teachers and fellow students.
To Sara Inama and West Ada teachers: Thank you for standing up for your students. We support and cherish you.
To students: Make your voices heard and get involved in your communities. Visit babevote.org to learn more.
Nathan Zimmerman, Meridian, student body president, Renaissance High School
Veterans
As a veteran who formerly held a top secret security clearance, I am appalled at the actions of the vice president and Secretary of Defense. Any member of the military (or civilian) which exposed classified information would be quickly punished. These are the relevant statues but I seriously doubt any of Trump’s minions will face punishment:
18 U.S.C. § 793(f) makes it a federal crime for people entrusted with information related to the national defense to, with gross negligence, disclose it to others in violation of that trust.
(44 U.S.C. § 2201(2)) the Presidential Records Act. Violation of this act exposes anyone found to have “willfully and unlawfully” concealed, removed, mutilated, obliterated or destroyed any record faces a fine and imprisonment for up to three years. (Use of unauthorized Signal app)
Glenn Anders, Meridian
Simpson
In response to Mike Simpson’s March 20, 2025 op-ed in The Washington Reporter:
1. Regarding “the left’s only agenda is resistance”: What about the terms of Obama and of Biden when Republicans did nothing, Republican-led Congresses did nothing, except resist?
2. “More than 77 million Americans sent a clear message” they wanted Trump: Which means almost 78 million Americans (50.2%) voted against Trump. And 57.5 million Americans didn’t vote at all. Not a clear message.
3. According to the NBC poll Simpson referenced: 51% of registered voters disapprove of Trump’s performance. “A majority still say the country is on the wrong track.”
4. Simpson asserts “more Americans believe the country is on the right track”: NBC’s poll shows a 55% disapproval rate of Trump’s handling of inflation and cost of living.
The rest of Simpson’s op-ed is unsurprising typical Republican rhetoric disparaging Biden and our House and Senate Democrats, playing fast and loose with facts. I am disappointed that our U.S. representative has swallowed Project 2025 goals hook, line, and sinker. I do not share his assertion that America is on the right track.
Martha Payne, Boise
West Ada
Simply, Wow, West Ada School District.
You are a national — actually, an international — disgrace, as this is a news story being followed by people across the world.
You have way more than egg on your face.
Your hateful request that a welcoming sign in a child’s classroom come down because “not everyone agrees with it” or “because it has many different colored hands” or because it’s “in opposition/violation of District policy” (i.e., different colored hands), has boldly demonstrated how racist, how small-minded, and how mean, the school district and Idaho is becoming.
If this is District policy, it is an abominable policy and needs to be removed. The negative perceptions that the rest of the nation and world now have of this state have been confirmed by the actions of the West Ada District Administration. I predict the repercussions will continue to grow, exponentially, and impact many other areas.
I applaud and support the students and parents who support Lewis & Clark teacher, Sarah Inama. You’ve demonstrated your kindness and welcoming nature, creatively and peacefully.
You are the hope and the light that this state so desperately needs. Please keep it up!
We shall overcome.
Ellen Spencer, Eagle
Veterans
At the Boise Veterans Affairs hospital, the sign at the entrance reads “The Price of Freedom Is Visible Here.” Veterans deserve to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect, and to casually dismiss from employment any veteran and those who serve our veterans is a unique form of sickness.
Mary Feeny, Boise
Child care
I have never heard of a child dying because they read a library book. Yet the legislature last year was so concerned about “materials harmful to minors” in public and private libraries that they passed legislation to keep those “harmful materials” away from children.
This year the legislators are about to pass legislation to deregulate child care centers, despite testimony that an 11-week-old child died in child care that did not meet the current regulations.
I leave it to readers to decide how concerned our legislators really care about the safety of Idaho’s children.
Mary Mosley, Meridian
Social Security
Idahoans are represented in Congress by two senators and two representatives. If you ask, they will sincerely promise to protect your Social Security benefit, and you will feel good about it. However, members of Congress no longer matter. Republicans fold like tissue paper because Trump (immune from prosecution) and Musk (richer than God) can hammer anyone with vicious social media attacks and primary challenges. In addition, extreme MAGA members, along with pardoned Oathkeepers and Proud Boys, are there to intimidate people with the guts to push back. Democrats try but they control nothing, and it takes forever for the courts to act. Musk has our data (courtesy of Treasury secretary Bessent) and the best geeks to manipulate it. Thus, the coast is clear for the project 2025 crowd to kill social security. Easy fixes proposed for the system will not be implemented. Instead, pennies on the dollar will be offered to buy out workers and retirees. When enough people have taken the bait, social security will no longer have a strong political base, and Trump can let it die. A similar strategy kills Medicare.
Jack Pelton, Boise