REFORM: Step in right direction

There have been a number of excellent letters to the editor lately commenting on the bills to revise education (commonly referred to as The Luna Plan) in which Superintendent Luna, Gov. Butch Otter, Sen. John Goedde and Rep. Bob Nonini have been severely criticized because they did not involve all the stakeholders from the start. While that criticism certainly has merit it seems unlikely that those most affected by budget cuts would have been quick to make positive suggestions as to how to do so. Certainly no one wants a lower salary, and it would be a very unusual person who could support a program that was not necessarily in their own personal best interest.

While the "Luna Plan" is not perfect it is certainly a step in the right direction. I feel the comments made by several about the wisdom of giving every student a laptop rather than having a classroom with laptops certainly merits closer consideration.

At this point it is important to remember that no matter the changes that are ultimately made the parents and the teachers hold most of the keys to successful education. No matter what the system, you are the ones who will most impact the children. Your efforts, either negative or positive, will determine the success for each child.

It is also important to keep in mind that 90 percent of the bad things we thought would happen in life never happened.

JIM HOLLINGSWORTH

Coeur d'Alene