The Associated Press Reported that 1,300 Idaho teachers left the profession in 2011, which is up from 700 in 2010. Why are so many teachers leaving? Superintendent Luna blames the mass exodus on the economy while Idaho Education Association President Penny Cyr points to the demoralization of teachers through Luna's Students Come First Plan. (Idaho Statesman, 2012) It is most likely more of a gray area than Luna or Cyr is making it out to be. Still, Cyr makes a stronger argument.
The economy in Idaho has been dismal for the last two to three years. Idaho families, like most, are doing what it takes to make it, and that includes relocating to where there are jobs. Mr. Luna says teachers are leaving because they are following spouses to new jobs. Using Luna's logic, wouldn't this indicate Idaho teachers are not being paid enough to support a family in Idaho and must depend on their spouse's employment? And why didn't we lose 1,300 teachers in 2010? The economy was bad, if not worse, then. Mr. Luna needs to prove he is attracting and keeping teachers rather than throwing out unproven excuses that don't really make sense.
When a teacher leaves, the reason most often cited is 'personal reasons'. This hardly means they were so "demoralized" they had to leave. On the other hand, the title of Luna's legislation, Students Come First, implies educators have not been doing their jobs. Through Luna's plan, teacher salaries have been reduced, teacher to student ratios are up, and the message teachers can be replaced by a computer is coming across loud and clear. There is no other profession that has as many bosses as educators do. But through Students Come First, teachers no longer have due process rights or the ability to have their voices heard through collective bargaining. Demoralizing may be an appropriate term and a more realistic reason we are losing our teachers. Still, the IEA also needs to do their research.
Education reform of any kind cannot be done without the support and input of teachers. Voters need Luna to answer the tough questions, and they need teachers to speak out and be heard so that we can make an informed, research-based decision on Students Come First and cast a vote on the referendum that keeps educators in Idaho.
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Bonner, Jessie. (2012, February 15). More Idaho teachers left the profession in 2011. Idaho Statesman. Retrieved from http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/02/15/1995055/more-idaho-teachers-lef...
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