Voices

Our current system gives one person — the governor — too much power.

Despite words, task forces and good intentions, our education system is failing many of our students. Idaho ranks 39th in high school graduation rates and only 20 percent of our kids are college and career ready when they graduate. We must do better.

Yes, the world is a difficult and complex place that can be dangerous. But we need to stand for opportunity and understanding; optimism and realism can exist side by side.

Teens say they are concerned about their future because policy makers have devalued diplomas in the eyes of higher education institutes and future employers.

Beyond helping to provide the more skilled and educated workforce that our employers need, the return on this investment will be what it does for so many individual Idahoans who are striving for a better future.

Legislation would help school boards defend their professional school employees from being publicly pestered into supporting a labor union.

In order for Idahoans to live the American Dream, it is necessary for them to have the best education possible.

Idaho has a proud history of individualism and a pioneering spirit. Mastery education draws from that legacy and connects it to our future.

The master teacher premium plan, hatched to increase salaries for Idaho’s best teachers, has not been developed and a lot of questions remain unanswered.

Idaho could learn a lesson from Tennessee, which is promoting post-secondary education as a way to invest in the future.