SCHOOLS: Everyone should be welcome

By now, we all know the story. A sixth-grade teacher in Meridian is ordered to remove two signs from her classroom saying, “Everyone is welcome here.” One showed hands of different skin tones. School administrators argue that “Everyone is welcome here” is a personal opinion that not everyone would agree with. This was not someone smuggling immigrants across the border. This was a teacher’s heartfelt greeting and the words near the end of our Pledge of Allegiance, “Liberty and Justice for all.”

Have Americans become so sensitive and belligerent that we legislate against common kindness and civility? This incident makes clear that any sign that dares to welcome all students will be removed from Idaho’s public-school classrooms. The Legislature has said as much with HB 41. Ironically, private schools that accept taxpayer money will be free to promote any political, religious or racial sentiment they want.

The League of Women Voters of Idaho believes every child should have an equal educational opportunity in the “general, uniform, and thorough system of public free common schools” required by Article IX of the Idaho Constitution. In defense of that belief, in defense of the right of free speech, and frankly, in defense of common decency, LWVID and its member Leagues support this teacher’s action and will fight any effort to infringe on the right of all teachers to welcome every child!

MIKE BULLARD

President

League of Women Voters Kootenai County

JILL RINALDI

Vice-President League of Women Voters Moscow

KENDAL SHABER

Convener

League of Women Voters of Idaho, Greater Boise Area

MELANIE EDWARDS

Convener

League of Women Voters of Idaho, Idaho Falls

PAM WARD

President

League of Women Voters Pocatello

JEAN HENSCHEID

Co-President

League of Women Voters of Idaho

BETSY McBRIDE

Co-President

League of Women Voters of Idaho