A billionaire family in Idaho has been running ads (“Don’t Fail, Idaho”) disparaging the schools as failures. The Albertson family wants to promote online learning, which will save money but provide worse education. A member of the family invests in K12.
A sad story from an Idaho teacher:
I live in Idaho. I have seen public education dollars drop so low, that we are seeing our largest district in the state, struggling to hold on, using up reserves they once had. The push of charter schools in this state is high.
Idaho has reduced it’s public funding to schools since 2001. The voters of Idaho approved a 1% sales tax increase back in 2006 that was earmarked for education, only for the state to remove other funds that were allocated towards education, to help support a decrease in business property tax. Education lost money in this deal. I know my kids’ school is considered a low performing school, there is high poverty, yet there are great teachers! And, my boys are getting a great education. Charters spread the states’ education dollars further, in an already poorly funded system.
http://www.thenation.com/article/167782/questions-idaho-economist-mike-ferguson#axzz2XvGxwLwm
My boys attend a school that has poor ratings, according to Idaho’s new 5 star rating system. I understand there is high poverty in their school, but there are also great teachers and great learning opportunities. I believe my boys are not only getting an academic education, but an education on how to develop relationships with people from all different backgrounds. This is huge, when being successful in a business/career. Everyone encounters different types of people. A mediocre boss, a great boss, a not so great one, and same with coworkers. It is true in any profession. But, in order to be successful in a company, there must be respect…something that seems to be lacking at times when it comes to teachers. In fact, that’s what got me involved. A parent, who saw the blaming of teachers as the problem with our schools, ludicrous! Something was not right, and boy, did I find out more than I could imagine in this web of destruction of our public schools.
Governor Otter even boasted to a gun company to come and bring their business to Idaho, because we have the most minimum wage workers in the country. Just who is failing Idaho, the people? I think not.
Bottom Rung: Gov. Otter Touts Idaho’s Low Wages To Attract Gun Companies
We had public hearings on education at the state house. There was going to be a public hearing with the Joint Finance and Approppriations Committee, but Governor Otter didn’t feel that was necessary, because we didn’t have a budget issue this year. Oddly enough, the biggest complaint at the education hearings was lack of funding, regardless if you were supporting “traditional” public schools or charters.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/01/19/2417923/legislaturekills-public-hearings.html
So do we have some high poverty schools? Yes, I guess you can say that. And running these ads of “Don’t Fail Idaho,” are hard to swallow when you know the real truth. Cause no, it is not my kids, nor will I let it be!
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Amazing how a handful of wealthy families can jam things down America’s throats… while we just let it happen…
It makes me want to start an ad campaign of our own…..but how?
To those of us who do or have taught in Idaho, this is no surprise. It all began with rule of Butch Otter (whose wife is a teacher) and the infamous Tom Luna. How sad the legacy these two men will leave behind them when finally they are dethroned!
Idaho’s First Lady Lori Otter is no teacher. She once had a job with that title, briefly.
While her husband the Governor and Superintendent of Public Instruction were desperately trying to shove the union-busting, privatization legislation known as Propositions 1, 2, and 3 down the throats of Idaho taxpayers, Lori Otter *personally* solicited a $250,000 donation from New York City Mayor and billionaire social engineer Michael Bloomberg to support their efforts. About Proposition 1, which sought to eliminate collective bargaining and continuing contracts (in her words “tenure”), she once said, “This law gives control to the school boards, principals and patrons; If Prop 1 fails, the unions will again take over all the bargaining. Unions were founded by people with an agenda who have no idea what the issues are here in Idaho.”
She is a lot of things, including a hack, a demagogue, an empty suit, and a shill for the power elite in Idaho, but she is no teacher.
Kevin, THANK YOU for sharing! Very well put!
I’m reading “Thinking Fast and Slow” and it has some distressing findings relative to the impact of repetition: a message that is repeated sticks in the minds of listeners OR readers. Today’s billionaires and the politicians who are doing their bidding are succeeding in convincing the public that “schools are failing” and evidence to the contrary— especially evidence that requires “slow thinking”, thinking that requires effort— faces an uphill battle. The “schools are failing” meme started with Terrell Bell’s “A Nation at Risk” and too many school boards and administrators (yours truly included) saw this as an opportunity to get increased spending in schools and failed to see it as a message that would—over time—undermine public education. We have many mountains to climb if we hope to overcome the decades of negative messaging.
That is a good point. And we will be strengthened by acknowledging it.
What they really believe in are “user fees” instead of taxes. If you don’t use something, you don’t pay for it.
It is completely opposite of everything necessary to have a stable society.
Well said. Thank you.
The practice of repeating the Big Lie is alive and well in Idaho, employed by the Albertson Foundation and its offshoots, the Don’t Fail Idaho campaign and Idaho Business for Education. They compound the damage they do by repeating what they know to be untrue, inaccurate, and misleading, even after the inaccuracies have been brought to their attention. One such example is their oft-repeated mantra that over 60% of Idaho’s 4th- and 8th graders are “not proficient” in math and reading. This is a gross misreading of the results of NAEP tests, as detailed in the following article:
http://www.idahoednews.org/voices/use-grade-levels-to-understand-naep/
PS: Idaho Education News is primarily funded by the Albertson Foundation and claims to be an independent member of the press. I remain unconvinced about that claim.
This state is also full of Neo Nazi’s and religious fundamentalists. So what else would you expect. Once again it is the fault of the people for electing these nimrods. When will the people actually realize what their real rights and needs are and vote that way. They seem to be more interested in American Idol than their future. As long as this continues we will be on the path to a big crash as always happens when a society becomes as we are.
Mr. Buzzetti, I tried to gently correct you the last time you demonstrated your provincialism by claiming that Idaho is “full of Neo Nazi’s [sic] and religious fundamentalists.” It is a conservative state, and has in the past been the headquarters of the Aryan Nations, but your depiction of Idaho is inaccurate, misleading, and stereotypical. Knock it off, mmm-kay?
I wanted to comment on the five-star rating system mentioned by this parent, which we also just started here in Nevada. I teach at a three-star school while my own kids attend a two-star school, and I have to agree that the star system sends out false messages about a school. The only five star non-magnet high school here in urban Las Vegas is–surprise!–in one of the richest neighborhoods. My kids’ school, which is in Henderson, has a higher proportion of ELL and FRL students as it is in an older neighborhood with smaller houses. The star system is based on several factors including test scores, AP enrollment etc. My kids have had good and weak teachers at their school, but I can tell you that is the case at EVERY public high school here where exponential growth before the recession resulted in hiring virtually everyone who applied, and we now have shortages not only in Special Ed, math and science, but English as well–basically, all the subjects which testing affects. My biggest concern as both an educator and parent is that these ratings are self-fulfilling prophecies, that right now they mostly indicate socioeconomic status, but as teacher evaluations become tied to test scores and stars, the experienced teachers with more connections will transfer to the higher rated schools, and the lower rated schools will have even higher turnover rates than they do now. Teachers who actually prefer to work with lower income students will be penalized. They should be rewarded, not punished, for wanting to work in high needs neighborhoods and subjects. Already at my school, we see teachers who want to change grade levels and work with seniors because right now, that is the group of students with the least scrutiny since our credit-deficient seniors are usually referred to adult ed and their test scores are not part of the rating system.
Reg, you are dead on. I deliberately sought a tough assignment at one of our rural schools. I wanted the challenge, with my eyes wide open as to the potential hear break and the chance to help families. As you stated, after 16 years with Clark County, I fear I will be punished for that choice.
Ron Hughes, Principal
Apison Elementary School
10433 East Brainerd Road
Apison, TN 37302
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke
And don’t forget the “Go On” campaign in recent years in Idaho. Idaho was at one point #50 in college retention from Freshman to Sophomore year. What no one will say out loud is that there is a religious culture reason for that. NOT that schools are failing.
And what, pray tell, is the “religious culture reason,” Debbie?
Ms. Cottonware can speak for herself, of course, but what she appears to be referring to is the practice of young women in the Church of Latter-Day Saints attending college for a couple of years while their boyfriends are overseas serving church missions, then dropping out of college to marry upon their return. Now that young women can also serve missions, the obverse no doubt also occurs. In addition, the college careers of young LDS men may be interrupted or ended by their 2-year missions.
I am unaware of any studies documenting this phenomenon or its effect on retention rates at Idaho colleges and universities, but it seems to me quite likely that the phenomenon exists and that it exerts some influence.
Mrs. Debbie, when identifying a problem, please state what the problem is specifically, otherwise you are being unclear what you are talking about. The religion in Idaho has positive influence on education and family promotion.
The religious culture reason is that LDS students leave school to go on missions which last two years.
And when you hear friends, coworkers, make a comment that comes from the “Don’t Fail Idaho” ads you realize it works. These are educated people. I politely correct them, and I have to say, they are surprised I disagree.
Jennifer Leuck, Please tell me what you say when you correct them. I work in education also and my friends hear my frustrations and opinions regarding public policy toward educators and education in this state, but I would love to know what you say specifically about the “Don’t Fail Idaho” campaign so I can use it, if you don’t mind. 🙂
First, I think it’s important to note, most of the people I work with don’t have kids in public school or their kids are out of school now. So, I first have to explain life in a public school now. I also discuss funding to public schools and how it has gotten so low, that materials needed for learning opportunities have been cut. Class sizes have increased. Our public schools get funding for testing, and training teachers to teach to the test.
To me, the common sense of fixing public education in Idaho would be to ask the teacher. What if parents and teachers worked together with their child on how to maximize their child’s education? What if the state funded schools to promote smaller class sizes and materials needed for basic learning?
The teacher blaming is what made me use my critical thinking skills, to realize that something was wrong… And it brought me to realize the deeper problem going on in public education… Follow the money in the destruction of it. Those with the money, are doing everything in their power to promote a failed public education system. Get enough people to believe it, then parents start sending their kids to charters, K12 inc. funded by Joe Scott. It’s advertisement to promote ones own self interest.
What do you say Miranda? Because, I can only go off of what I have experienced personally, I tell them that my kids are successful, in a supposedly poor performing school. That I would sure hate doing my job, if I was constantly being criticized. That if I got constant pay cuts, I think I’d be looking for a new job. That I think teachers are pretty amazing people to put up with what they do.
Having just read this blog, and very surprised to find my character called into question regarding teaching I would like to clear up a few statements – although in this forum I am sure it will useless- BUT-here goes.. I am a teacher, I have taught for 12 years- all levels k-12, , in Arizona and in Meridian school district. I maintain my certification, I have a Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education and English, as well as a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership. I have spent countless hours coaching and teaching kids. I am entitled to my opinion- don’t insult me by inferring that I only do what my husband wants me too.. hello- what century are you living in?..I have the right to support things in my profession that I think are good for it. It has always surprised and disappointed me that teachers or educational forums such as this accomplish little except allowing adults to say mean and unfounded comments, things which do not have to be defended or factually supported… Which I might add is something we would not want our students to do. So.. That’s all I have to say -I am a teacher, a very good one I might add, I am qualified to speak on education..just as much as all of you are and will continue to do so.. I am perfectly fine with disagreeing with points of view.. But really? Yes.. Nice matters. . Thanks.
Miss Lori, what are you talking about? Who insulted you?
I assume “Miss Lori” is claiming to be Lori Otter
” Kevin S. Wilson
July 10, 2013 at 5:53 pm
Idaho’s First Lady Lori Otter is no teacher. She once had a job with that title, briefly. “
You clearly did NOT teach English- you have made that abundantly clear in your comments. What is also clear is that your husband and his cronies will forever be known as the destroyers of Idaho’s system of public education. Your legacy will be deservedly less notable- you will be remembered as the token talking mouthpiece cheerleader who provided background noise. Either way, we all know there is a special place in hell for women who don’t support other women and teachers who don’t support other teachers. And, your marriage won’t count as “time served” when it is your turn to go.
I do think nice matters. I don’t think it was “nice” of you to attack teachers the way you have over the past few years. You have mislead voters on purpose to further your ideological and political goals and those of your husband. If you feel attacked by these posts, imagine how ALL of the Idaho teachers felt every time they saw you publicly belittle them and attack their profession. The reason people doubt you are a real teacher is because it is surprising to teachers that you could turn your back so completely on your colleagues and your students. P.S. I don’t know how a good teacher, as you claim to be, could every willingly play a part in destroying public education the way that you have. If you don’t believe your acts and those of your husband and his political buddies have gone a long way to destroy public education, well then you aren’t paying attention.
I believe Miss Lori is Idaho’s First Lady, Lori Otter, who is mentioned in a Kevin Wilson comment elsewhere.
It is amazing to me (not being from Idaho, but having family there). How it appears the politicians and their friends are pushing for profit “on-line” education, of course, from companies that are owned by their friends.
“On-line” colleges are a hot topic in Congress, as well as accrediting institutions. Both being accused of profit motive and failing to do their job.
How Long before Idaho loses control of their own destiny to the Federal Government?](Perhaps the Feds would protect the teachers)
And besides, Why would any major corporation move to Idaho if their “schools are failing”
If seeking cheap labor, there is plenty of that in other parts of the world.
Ron Hughes, Principal
Apison Elementary School
10433 East Brainerd Road
Apison, TN 37302
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke