Journees de Revolution

Nearly two decades ago, my high school AP European History teacher stepped out of his classroom for a cup of coffee.  He did this everyday at the same time before class (creatures of habit beware).  On this particular day, a handful of us stormed the class and barricaded ourselves inside his classroom in the French Revolutionary (1848) style.  Demands?  I can't remember what our demands were or if there were any demands other than to bring us our own carafe of coffee.  While our teacher may have been perturbed at our little Journees de Revolution (Day of Revolution) we could tell he was a little surprised and delighted his teachings had sunk in.

I have listened to legislators and teachers, read about plans and engaged in numerous conversations with other parents about the current education reform http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/S1069.htm. 

I understand the problem, there is a budget shortfall.  Idaho is suffering a shortfall of tax revenue.  Fewer people working means fewer people paying payroll taxes as well as less money coming into the system via sales tax.  It's more complicated than I've made it sound but I get the overall gist of the problem, as do the majority of Idahoans.  Less money means we need to cut back and the education reform bill has proposed ways to remove costs from classrooms by means of consolidation and cutbacks in teacher benefits.  This means putting more students in classes, cutting the payroll by eliminating teachers and using technology in place of live classroom instruction.

In the business world, we have also embraced this type of instruction, for better and for worse, when we found scarcity in technical instructors.  After all, finding a technical instructor for a start up technology in Malaysia is not as easy as finding one in Palo Alto.  It's a good solution, for adults with the discipline to work independently.  For adults without the discipline to sit at their desks and avoid distractions like playing fetch with the dog and napping, it's a disastrous waste of time and money.  Rushing into such a teaching paradigm shift is unwise.  Parents want to see better results than simply what one might see from experimentation.  (Believe me, the first year of their lives felt like one giant experiment, we expect the tried and true practice of education to actually work.)

Parents want more education, not less.  Full day kindergarten?  Bring-it-on.  Businesses want a better educated workforce, not less.  Health care and law enforcements professionals NEED a better educated populace, not less.  There is visible opposition to the education reform in the 2011 Idaho Legislature from parents, teachers and even students.  However, this opposition is not translating into opposition from Legislators.  Is there a less visible majority of constituents out there calling representatives to support education reform?  If the majority supports this particular education reform, then let it become law.  However, if you harbor a shread of doubt, give that doubt voice.

We can agree without being disagreeable and it is possible to find fault with parts of the whole or good in the whole with which you don't agree.  The important thing is that you translate your feelings into words and express them to your elected representatives.  Call, write or email your representatives.  Calling is said to be best, there is some rumor that emails are not being read in a timely manner and your views might not be heard.  The Statehouse is a public venue, open to the public on the weekends.  Visit with your children to show them where our State's business is conducted.  Showing up sends a strong message that you care and you might even be able to slip a note under your representatives office door.  We live in a free society where such public protests are not only tolerated but encouraged to keep the Republic strong; no barricades necessary!

I might be nearly 20 years removed from my little Journees de Revolution, but that history teacher is why I write this Blog entry.  Out of the many teachers who taught me well, Patrick McHugh inspired me the most.  While he may now be retired (probably gratefully after some of the stunts we pulled), Patrick McHugh lives on as the teacher who still inspires me to read Machiavelli, gives me joy when I listen to Les Miserables and even shudders of recognition when I listen to Sting's St. Augustine in Hell (you had to be there).  This is what teachers mean to me and why I support living, breathing teachers in front of our students, if only to see the shock, surprise and sheer delight of 15 chairs piled in front of their classroom door in the name of education.

Legislative District 17




State Senator

Elliot Werk (D)

6810 Randolph Drive

Boise ID 83709



State Representative A

Bill Killen (D)

734 S Coral Place

Boise ID 83705



State Representative B

Sue Chew (D)

1304 Lincoln Ave

Boise ID 83706



Legislative District 18



State Senator

Mitch Toryanski (R)

5848 S Schooner Pl

Boise ID 83716



State Representative A

Julie Ellsworth (R)

PO Box 668

Boise ID 83701



State Representative B

Phylis K King (D)

2107 Palouse
Boise ID 83705




Nikki Rutledge
Whitney Parent