REFORM: Teachers remain optimistic

Stanley Kwake's letter of April 22 inadvertently makes a good point regarding education reform, in that much of our current battle for Idaho's schools was lost in last November's elections and the recent economic downturn. The short-term steaks - er, stakes - for us hogs are high. Losing much of our power to fight for quality schools in Idaho, those who support education must look toward the future referendums, and even perhaps hold onto a long-term optimism that Idaho's leaders will remember their state's constitution where it says that "it shall be the duty of the legislature of Idaho, to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools" (Article IX, Section 1).

There is no getting around the financial necessity supporting "free" and "thorough" in this mandate: that, like infrastructure and the rest of the state apparatus on which we and our make-believe libertarian neighbors depend, education - opportunity - requires an investment from us, the taxpayers.

Talk radio-induced delusions about over-paid and over-protected teachers in Idaho fit right in with everyone's frustrations about the government and the economy, and so this shortsighted reform plan will now have its moment in the sun. But there is really only one way forward. Idaho must take financial responsibility for its education system, and stop playing empty games that just echo equally empty ideologies.

These coming few years, with their levies, referendums and elections, offer us a great place to start. To be sure, our optimism is a far squeal from despair.

AARON HAYES

Post Falls