Testimony: School lacks wireless, electrical to accommodate laptops

Pam Danielson of Peck told lawmakers, “Orofino Junior-Senior High does not have the wireless capability nor do we have the electrical capability for multiple laptops.” She said when her daughter took an online class through the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, technical problems, including filters that dropped tutorials, kept it from working and she had to drop the class.

Pat McAllister of Boise, who identified himself as a taxpayer, said, “Let’s really make it count and have the students really come first this time.” What students need, he said, is “smaller class sizes, more attention,” and most of all, content. “Overcrowded classes have led to problems in schools, so why would we ever consider it again?” he asked. “We’ve made budget cuts that have compromised our children’s future by playing politics with it.” He said if the state wants expert advice on how to improve education, it should ask teachers, not a committee.

Wilburn Wesche of Boise said, “The paradigm shift required to reform schools is complex.” He said, “Education reform relies on three pillars: Time to teach, resources and evaluation. Time to teach requires a class small enough for optimal learning.” Wesche said there’s a place for online classes, but they shouldn’t be seen as the equal of classroom instruction. “I have let to see a laptop or  a clicker comfort a neglected or abused child,” he said. “This obsession to fire teachers is not the answer,” he said, and added, “Most of us want to reform our schools, not dismantle them.”