Idaho Democrats have issued a statement slamming state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna's sweeping school-reform plan. Among their comments: "If after four years of his leadership, our public school system is 'broken,' why should any parent, student or voter put the slightest faith in any idea proffered by the architect of such failure?" Click below to read their full statement.

IDAHO DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Idaho Dems Respond to Luna Proposal

Friday, January 14, 2011
For Immediate Release

During his campaign for re-election, Superintendent Tom Luna assured Idaho voters that our system of public schools was strong and that student achievement was on par with or exceeded that of almost any other state.  Just two months after his re-election, Mr. Luna has announced to the Idaho Legislature that our public school system is broken, unsustainable, and unable to meet the needs of our students.  This shocking assessment raises two important questions.  First, what happened in these last two months to cause Idaho’s system of public schools to go from “excellent” to “broken”?  Secondly, if after four years of his leadership, our public school system is “broken”, why should any parent, student or voter put the slightest faith in any idea proffered by the architect of such failure?

Mr. Luna mistakenly feels that computers can replace teachers and that taking all semblance of job security away from new teachers will attract the best and the brightest young teaching talent to our state.  He asserts that software pedaled by those who contributed heavily to his campaign fund is superior to curriculum adopted by individual local school boards.

The future belongs to our children.  The education of our children to meet the challenges of the future is our sacred duty.  Increasing class sizes, intimidating dedicated teachers and taking critical decision making authority away from locally elected school boards may be “new” ideas but they certainly are not good ideas.

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