Teachers Unions Should Focus On Education, Not Politics

Three cheers for the teachers who objected to the Washington Education Association’s liberal social and political agenda and threatened to sue. The WEA agreed to reimburse the unhappy teachers about $200 to $300 this year and to cut their dues in half next year - rather than take its chances in court. Said Steve Cowdrey, a Clarkston, Wash., social studies teacher: “I’m disappointed that the NEA (National Education Association) masquerades as a friend of education, but it primarily promotes liberal social and political agendas that have nothing to do with education.” Teachers unions have every right to fight for higher pay, better working conditions and smaller classroom sizes. But they go far afield with many of their causes. Generally, unions are viewed as a liberal arm of the Democratic Party. Maybe this wake-up call from the membership will force the WEA and other teachers unions to concentrate again on their original mission: quality education.

Brace yourself for incoming Gray Wave

I never know whether to applaud or yelp when the Coeur d’Alene area makes someone’s list of great places to live. It’s nice that our town is recognized by outsiders. But each mention attracts more people, which drives up housing prices, congests streets and schools and sends Kootenai County Assessor Tom Moore’s eager-beaver appraisers back to their calculators. The latest mixed blessing comes from a book by MacMillan Travel, “Retirement Places Rated.” Coeur d’Alene ranked seventh in the nation. Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce manager Pat McGaughey was surprised it wasn’t first. But then he must think everyone loves snow. Oh well, senior citizens generally don’t compete for jobs and don’t add to school overcrowding. I guess there’s room at the table for Grandma and Grandpa.

Human rights battle far from over

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations did a good job of shadowing Richard Butler and racist activity during the 1980s. In fact, local human rights activists wrote the book on how to combat racism in a community. They’ll need to reread that book when Texas Ku Klux Klan pooh-bah Louis Beam moves to the Sandpoint area. Beam is a zealous, charismatic supremacist who makes Butler look like a doddering pussycat. North Idaho has fought long and hard to overcome its image as a racist haven, but the roughest days may lie ahead. Here’s hoping the lull since the fall of The Order and The Order II has enabled Tony Stewart and other human rights activists to catch a second wind.

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