The most dominating story in our local news has to be the education reform bills proposed by Idaho Superintendent, Tom Luna. The series of bills are intended to address to stagnant or even declining performance of our state’s school along with looking for ways to address budget issues. The budget issues not only include reducing the total amount of money spent on education in the state, but further review where is the money best spent.
The highlights of the bill include increase the average class size across the state, reducing the number of teachers by over 700, and increasing the usage of technology in our education system by providing laptops access to high school students and requiring a certain number of classes to be taken on-line.
The proposals have caused uproar from parents, teachers, administrators, and students. There are many questions about the research, rationale, and benefits from the proposal. While most public debate has been civil, there have been a few acts of vandalism committed against Tom Luna and his family. Most recently, high school students have organized walk outs from school to protest the bills. While the pessimist would say the students left school for the sake of leaving school, the optimist says it is great to see students take an active part in their education.
What have you heard about education reform in Idaho? What do you think about people’s reactions to the bills including the recent student walkout? What do like about your education to date? What do you think could be done differently to enhance your education?
Halle- Luna is planning to make Idaho public schools make more classes online rather than have an actual teacher teach. he plans to cut down the teacher's budgest and add more technology. The way people are reacting i think is right. They are taking a stand for what they believe in and for something that is unjust. They want Luna to know that they do not agree with his idea. I like about our education is that it challenges us and we get to see visual aspects of learning. If we took all online classes, it could be harder, or way too easy. having an actaul human being teach us would be better. So we can ask questions and fully understand the concept better.
ReplyDeleteSofiaaaaa- Luna is planning on cutting teachers budgets and adding more technology to the schools curriculum. People have been reacting in a way that i think is very civil. They have been protesting but none of the protests have gotten out of hand. The students walking out on their classes i think was a great way to show how they were un happy with the bill. I think it was good they were not punished because they are standing up for what they beleive. I think that the education system we have right now is great. there is enough technology but not to much as to where everything is online or having to do with some sort 0of technology. I like how there is technology in some classes but not in math or other subjects that technology isnt needed. Technology class is very fun and I think it was a grreat addition to St.Joes. Our education could be enhanced by adding some more recent technology to some classes.
ReplyDeleteCristina- i have heard that lunas bill will cut the salerys of teachers and students will be taught by an online class. i think its good that the students know what is happening to there school but i am also on the side of luna. That reason why is because he is trying to save money. Our education is going out into technology everyday. technology is pretty much teaching us though. the computer the tv and ipods and phone are teaching us news and international news. so the people are saying that we dont want to be taught by a computer, you are taught by one everyday. i thiink what can be done differently is that we could do teaching just the way it is.
ReplyDeleteTRAVISSSSSSS-I have heard that Luna is trying to save money in our public school system by laying off large amounts of teachers and replacing them with online classes. I think that its a bit ridiculous that all those students are walking out and not even getting in trouble for doing it. I really like my education right now and would not like it to see it change but all this luna stuff doesn't apply to us because we go to a catholic school and aren't controled by the government. I don't think we need to do much, just like letting us use better technology and stuff like that.
ReplyDeleteMorgan- I have heard that Luna is trying to save money by cutting teachers, making class sizes larger, and having people take online classes. Luna is also trying to put more technology into schools. I don't think that the peoples reactions is wrong but it isn't right either. If you are passionate about something you should speak up. I don't think it is right how the students are protesting and skipping school. But they are taking part in their education which is important. I like how we have good teachers to teach and how the class sizes are smaller.I think that we could bring more technology into the classrooms.
ReplyDeleteRyan Z.- I think that Luna should start reforming education by ending the teachers union. Like TODAY would be nice. Because the teachers union was a good idea in 1955 but now it's just letting bad teachers stay in the system. I also think that schools like Highlands and Anser should be combined (students and faculty)to make a bigger school and the same thing should be done for school districts. It's just too bad if the kids parents don't want them to be in a bigger school we need to save money. I also think that firing BAD teachers is an excellent idea but Luna's method of just drawing names out of a hat and firing is stupid. Teachers should be individually evaluated and assessed and if they don't meet up to standards then they need to be fired.
ReplyDeleteHannah- I have heard a lot about how Luna wants to make classes bigger,cut teacher's salary, and have more online classes. I think people's reactions are good because a lot of people are unhappy with the Luna bill and if you are unhappy with something you should speak your mind. I like technology class and I think it is a great addition to St.Joe's and I like how we have more technology in the classroom and small class sizes for more hands on learning. I think we could enhance our learning with more recent technology.
ReplyDeletejosu-Luna is trying to save money by cutting teachers and their salaries, increasing the class size. He also wants more technology used in the classroom and students to take more online classes. I think people have the right to stand up for what they believe in. I think that the students walk out was a good idea because it showed everyone that kids care about their education. I like the education that i am receiving. It could be enhanced by having a longer school year. i would hate that, but it would enhance our education.
ReplyDeleteLuke- Luna is trying to save money by cutting their teachers salaries and making it so that the teachers aren't payed as much and increasing class size. Also he thinks that we should use technology to teach and take online classes. I think that it is completely right for people to protest for what they want but how the students are marching up and down the streets is not a good way to approach. although it does show that the kids want to learn and care about there education. I do like the education i am getting as a student currently. like josu said having a longer school year would help enhance education i think everyone would hate that.
ReplyDeletePhillip- I heard that Luna has increased sizes of the classes, and made it required to take online classes. Also, many students started protesting. i think ... POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!! I like that we do not have to takeclasses outside of school, and that we have a small class. I'm fine with our current education system now.
ReplyDeleteDanielle-Well i haven't heard much about the education reform but i know that Luna wants to make classes bigger and cut teacher's salaries and have online classes. I know that a lot of people are unhappy with Luna and i agree that he is going a bit overboard. I think everything is well done at St. joes and technology was a wonder new edition to st. joes. I think we should learn more about latest technology and help us to become better writers because i love to write.
ReplyDeleteRyan M- Luna is making this stupid laws and they are trying to make computers the teachers and i think that this will dum our society down. They are unhappy and want the laws to go back to normal. I like that we are not involved in all of this and that makes me feel good. they could forget technology and let the teachers do the teaching instead of the computers.
ReplyDeleteAngie- I strongly disagree with the Luna Bill. Cutting teacher salaries and having more computer programs is a really dumb idea. Students just won't learn as well on a computer program than with a teacher. I think its fine that students are protesting for what they believe in. I like having teacher instead of computers! I agree that the teachers who don't teach well should be fired, but I don't think we should have less teachers. We need educated teachers to teach the younger generations so we can go on to become successful and help out with the economy!
ReplyDeleteCooper- I think Luna should make the online classes so kids wouldnt have to go to school they could just do their homework at home like if a student was sick they could do their homework at home and send the work to the teacher. I think its good rtheir taking a stand for what they believe in. I like the education I am recieving right now. Like josu and luke maybe a longer school year
ReplyDeleteAtticus- luna is trying to have the students in public high schools take more online classes insted of real teachers. I think that it is good that the students are fulfilling what they believe in but I think that it is just too much to walk out of school just to protest when you can do it right after school. Also i think that the students should realize that if this bill gets passed they should spend as much time as they can with their real teachers. what i like about my education is that there is a small class sizes and that the "TEACHERS" can pay more atention to single students. What can enhance my education is if we had more computers for each classes (which has improved but still).
ReplyDeletegabby- i think the reaction to the bill and the student walkouts, i think its good and bad. i reason i think it good is because students need to know what happening. i think its good they know how it effects there education. on the other some students might actually know what happening. while others might just be walking out for the heck of it. i like how our education has a combo of technology and actual teachers. i think if we had a bunch of like computers and no teaches i think that wouldnt work at all. but then again a little technology would not be bad if it doesnt effect the way the teacher teaches. if a teacher teaches very well without any technology it shouldnt be forced on them. i think it would enhance our education system would be to kind of balance out the the technology and teachers.
ReplyDeleteKaed-in I think that Luna is not doing the smart desion by putting the kids on a computer rather than just teachers teaching them. But I think also it was a had on the telling the students what to think and what is right for the teachers
ReplyDeleteI think that the teachers told the students to go out and and rebel against Luna.