I have recently had many conversations with my friends and business associates who are fed up, even frightened by the Idaho Legislature. It is one thing to be conservative and fiscally responsible, it is destructive when paranoid, baseless beliefs and actions undermine the education system. Last Thursday, the House voted 13-57 to send the higher education bill, already passed by the Senate back to Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee. Why would they take this action, “social Justice ideology” as well as “critical race theory” are a threat to our students—cutting budgets, sends a clear message. With the go on rate to higher education in our State well below the standard set by our legislature of 60%, limited funding and breadth of educational experience is a threat to developing the future workforce needed in Idaho.
It is just as concerning when the State legislature passed up a six million dollar federal grant for pre-k education on basis that it was an attempt to “indoctrinate” young children into social justice values. Subsequently the Senate finally passed the early education grant on a vote of 18-17. It seems unlikely that learning shapes, colors, the alphabet, and sharing toys are key elements in the plot to “indoctrinate”. Instead it is the road to educational parity where all of Idaho’s children reach kindergarten or first grade with the basic skills to learn to read, write, handle simple math and build expectation to graduate from high school and pursue next steps in their learning plans. A bill proposed to create a full day Kindergarten option around the state would further assure students can be prepared for first grade. The bill “lost momentum” said the House education chairman. The House just voted down the Teacher Salary bill over fears of social justice agenda in the classroom. I encourage you to let your representatives know how you feel and encourage them to get Idaho in the early learning business. Idaho deserves a strong and diverse education system.
A leader in Idaho’s Business community once told me, “it is not what you know that worries me so—it is what you know that you know that just is not so.” There is a very vocal group who have worked effectively to take control of house seats in many districts, it is going to be up to each of us who want open fact based discussion and compromise on key issues to get involved and lend support to assure our democracy works.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice lived a life dedicated to justice. Ginsburg spent much of her legal career as an advocate for gender equality and women’s rights. She was an excellent writer and earned her moniker as “The notorious R. B. G.” for her passionate and eloquent dissents. RBG said “fight for the things that you care about but do it a way that will lead others to join you.” It is reported that the Justice knew the importance of bringing people together around an issue and putting kindness at the forefront of the fight to inspire hearts and minds to change. RBG believed it was our duty, “to make life a little better for people less fortunate than you, that’s what I think a meaningful life is. One lives not just for oneself but for one’s community.” Finally, “reading is the key that opens doors to many good things in life. Reading shaped my dreams, and more reading helped make my dreams come true.” Social justice is at the heart of our country and demonizing it as some conspiracy to indoctrinate our youth is dangerous and just “not so”.
It is going to take many of us working together to restore balance in our political process in Idaho. I am in and I hope you will let our political leaders know where you stand.
We still need to wear masks in spite of what the Idaho Legislature thinks, thanks for looking out for yourself, friends, family, and any innocent bystanders.
Mike