Ei-iE

EI condemns the latest message delivered by Idaho Schools Superintendent Tom Luna, alleging that the Idaho Education Association was lying about “Students Come First”.

This provocative programme he wishes to implement aims to substitute online learning for live teaching, implement merit pay and put an end to collective bargaining. The Idaho Education Association is a member of the National Education Association (NEA), one of EI’s national affiliates.

Pay: good chance it will decrease

Luna told Republicans gathered for their annual state convention that the teacher organisation was not, for example, informing members their average pay will go up by about $2,000 when his plan is fully implemented. In fact, there is a good chance that it will not, unless the economy produces significantly more revenue for the state than it does today.

But there are claims that Luna's reform package took funds for implementation of online learning out of teacher salaries, which have been frozen for four years. And the House of Representatives, led by Rep. Bob Nonini, established priorities for future education funding that put computers ahead of teachers.

However, until the state starts receiving bids for computers and related teaching materials, the potential cost of the proposed programme is unknown to Luna or anybody else.

NEA President Dennis van Roekel responded by saying that “like his co-stars—those who’ve levied attacks against educators and their unions in the last year—Tom Luna is simply playing his part.”

“Collective bargaining allows workers to advocate for safe and fair working conditions, which benefits them, their families and those they serve, van Roekel added. “ Online learning should be an enriching component, not the totality, of a student’s learning experience.  Therefore we must recognise and expose these schemes for what they are—parts in a well-funded, highly-coordinated production to maintain America’s status quo of extreme income inequality.”

Bargaining rights undermined

In addition, contracts have been imposed on local teacher bargaining units in 21 out of Idaho's 130 districts. Last year, two districts imposed contracts. Before that, this was unheard of.

Luna claimed this was “positive news” because there were no strikes, walkouts or litigation.

In November, teachers will fight back with a referendum to repeal Luna's reforms. With little recourse available from the Legislature, and none at all at the bargaining table, they have only one other option: to vote with their feet.

Decent working conditions and salaries for teachers

“What is happening in Idaho is part of a continuous and alarming trend considering education and educators as a tool to balance the state budget,” EI Deputy General Secretary David Edwards stated.

“EI firmly condemns it. The crisis is again and again used by conservative leaders as an excuse to slash education funding. EI reiterates that educators must not be scapegoated, and education budget and trade union rights sacrificed in times of crisis: on the contrary, it’s time for all governments worldwide to invest in education as a way towards recovery.”