REFORM: Speak with your vote

It is time to vote senators and representatives out of office who do not listen to their constituents. I vote as an Independent and my children and grandchildren attend Idaho public schools.

I e-mailed several local legislators and appreciate receiving correspondence back from one of them. Interestingly though, the legislator implied that I do not understand legislation because we have differing opinions.

I do understand... a line item mandate in Senate Education Bill 1184 (Luna Plan) requires that tax money goes first to buy computer devices. The money to purchase the devices will come out of very limited and reduced funds meant to pay salaries of our hard working teachers. Additionally, the mandated and damaging action is shifted by the legislature to local school districts requiring them to cut the teachers' salaries, increase the number of students in a class or send skilled and talented teachers to Idaho's unemployment lines in order to have the money to purchase computer devices.

I prefer to have teachers, not machines, educate my children. Teachers are more capable of identifying and developing the greatest assets in our students and making them productive citizens. Idaho voters need legislators who listen to the majority of their constituents. It is coming through loud and clear from a significant numbers of voices that mandatory requirements in SB1184 will harm educational opportunities for Idaho's children. Idaho elected officials need to listen.

JOANNA ADAMS

Coeur d'Alene