MY TURN: Public schools through the centuries

Contrary to the thought that public schools were devised to ensure the stability of a Republican form of government as espoused by Mr. Regan in his “The Right to Choose” opinion, I believe public schooling was designed to provide a consistent and results-based form of education. Teachers in the public school system are required to have a four-year college degree, a teaching credential, plus passing a background check. Private schools may or may not require a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate though desired is not mandatory in the state of Idaho. The bottom line is that private schools teaching requirements (K1-12) are less stringent than public school teaching requirements.

As for the thought that the public school system is an 18th century relic that will not serve 21st century innovation requirements I would suggest that most of the innovations from the industrial age to our current period were developed by students that endured some public-school training. Clearly, elite private schools were and are part of the mix in the advancement of innovation. Both scholarships and personal payment for private education advanced some students. The current push for school choice has Christian education leanings. Many think Idaho taxpayers should help foot the bill for K-12 private Christian schools. This reduces the funding for public schools, which have historically provided a secular education (see Lemon Test) that led to my success, my child’s success and, probably, Mr. Regan’s success as well.

Let’s talk about the so-called 18th century public school curriculum. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education helps students develop skills for future success in college and beyond. The mathematics used in the development of computers, space exploration, TikTok algorithms and artificial intelligence was born of innovation prior to the 18th century. Algebra originated as far back as 1900-1600 B.C. in Egypt and Babylonia. The Arab mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi is considered to be the father of Algebra (9th century). Euclid of ancient Greece (300 B.C.) solidified the foundations of geometry with Islamic mathematicians (8th and 9th centuries) developing advanced non-Euclidean geometry used in art and architecture. Scientific principles have similar ancient roots with modern forms appearing in the 16th and 17th centuries. The first engineer, (Imhotep around 2660-2600 B.C.) using the mathematics described above designed the step pyramid in Egypt.

In summary, the technology we have today is based upon the building blocks developed substantially before the 18th century and the minds that gave us what we have today weren’t noted for their religion or lack thereof, sexual orientation or their skin color. I believe school-age children today should have teachers that have been proven to have the potential for successful transmission of information. The requirements of standardized credentials and licensing necessary for public school teachers provides a better assurance of teacher quality than private school requirements.   

In a more recent opinion Mr. Regan invites all readers to join the KCRCC, suggesting the many wonderful things in store for the U.S. with the new administration. The concept that DEI should be replaced by meritorious advancement sounds good. If were to examine the examples of this meritorious advancement promoted by the KCRCC, we stumble across the NIC trustee debacle advanced by the KCRCC. The trustees promoted by the KCRCC who had no training in virology or college management demanded that the COVID mask mandate be lifted regardless of state law. Smelling WOKE views in North Idaho with its history of lumber and mining plus a hunting and fishing culture, the KCRCC trustees thought it wise to fire the college president for no cause and push the college into a show cause designation prior to a loss of accreditation. Only lately with KCRCC trustees voted out is NIC capable of retaining accreditation. The millions of dollars lost due to willful mismanagement by the KCRCC vetted trustees served absolutely no purpose other than to weaken the college and the community. It is obvious that fealty to a person or idea is much more important than qualifications for the KCRCC or the new administration. As an example, perhaps on the planet Mars; Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary, Kash Patel as head of the FBI, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as director of Health and Human Services would be a good choice. Allow some time for voter remorse to kick in before thinking about joining the KCRCC. 

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Doug Albertson is a 40-year resident of Coeur d'Alene.