Idaho students walk out over education cuts

[Hannah Bell]

Public school students staged a series of walkouts in districts across the state of Idaho last week to protest planned budget cuts and teacher layoffs. Protests began last month after state superintendent Tom Luna called for increasing class sizes in elementary, middle, and high schools and the dismissal of 770 teachers. The state also aims to tie teacher pay to student performance on standardized tests.

Hundreds of high school students walked out February 28 in the capital, Boise, as well as in other cities including Caldwell and Pocatello. At least 100 Boise High School students occupied the rotunda of the state capitol building in a sit-in; 100 others from Meridian High School and 150 from Nampa High also participated in demonstrations. Elsewhere, students held demonstrations and school sleep-ins to oppose the legislation.

The education cuts are contained in three bills, two of which were passed in the state Senate and House committees on education Thursday. The bills will eliminate tenure for new teachers, introducing temporary one- and two-year contracts and implement “merit pay” based on performance. The legislation would also restrict collective bargaining to disputes over salaries and benefits.

The third, Senate Bill 1113, has drawn the most opposition from the public. The bill, which was returned to the Senate education committee for revision Tuesday, would eliminate 770 teaching positions over the next two years through attrition, increase class sizes, and issue laptops to high school students. The laptops are part of a plan to replace classroom instruction with online courses.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/mar2011/idah-m07.shtml

[Matariki]

1. Here's another source

http://www.ktvb.com/news/slideshows/Students-walk-out-of-class-in-protest-of-education-reform-plan-117064878.html

[LAGC]

2. Yep, native Idahoan here.

Tom Luna is really looking to fuck teachers over now. He thinks he has a mandate now that he's been re-elected, winning by over 20 points. There was a half-assed campaign by Educators for Olson (Luna's Democratic opponent in the election last year) but it never really caught on -- too many parents thought it was no big deal that Luna cut education spending during his first term, which was a harbinger of things to come.

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2010/10/06/krichert/idaho_politics_olson_plays_his_campaign_trump_card_%E2%80%94_school_budg

I'm betting a lot of parents are having second thoughts about it now, considering how fast Luna is working to really fuck teachers over and "automate" their children's education, replacing teachers with laptops, for example. If the election were held again today, I think we'd have different leadership for sure. Unfortunately, its going to be too little too late in Idaho's case, as this jackalope gets to serve for 4 more fucking years before we have a chance to get rid of him again. He can do ALOT of damage in that time.

Idaho is just so plain fucked right now and for the foreseeable future.