Idaho To Join National Teacher Program Board Votes For Training Effort Despite Superintendent’s Objection

State Schools Superintendent Anne Fox objected Tuesday to Idaho joining a group of states working to improve teacher training, saying the group’s approach smacks of national standards.

But the state Board of Education quickly outvoted her.

“This is not evil. … What we have here is an opportunity to join with somebody that is willing to help us get better teachers,” said board member Tom Dillon. “Now, if we can’t do that because we see black helicopters coming over the mountain, we’re in real trouble.”

The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, which has pledged $660 million in gifts to Idaho public schools, helped send six Idaho representatives to a Washington, D.C., meeting of the group, the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future.

Jim Cobble, superintendent of schools in Jerome, Idaho, told the board, “The entire 2-1/2-day conference revolved around how we can improve our teachers and basically recognize and reward them through the process.”

Cobble added, “No child ever learned to read in the superintendent’s office.”

Fox said she’s all for improving teacher training. But she said she doesn’t want the Albertson Foundation paying for the state to join any organization, and she said she believes the national commission pushes the same type of accreditation for teacher-training programs that Idaho already uses.

“I didn’t want an organization to start dictating some of the things that we just got rid of - national standards that are inappropriate,” Fox said.

But Trudy Anderson, director of the Albertson Foundation’s Center for Educational Excellence, said the foundation is not paying any fees for the state. There is no charge to join the commission, which is headed by North Carolina Gov. James Hunt Jr. and includes a dozen states.

“This is clearly something that is an opportunity for the state board to seek a relationship with other states,” Anderson said. “It’s just a nice concept to glean additional information.”

Before the national conference, nearly three dozen Idahoans, including school officials and legislators, gathered to study the commission’s 1996 report, “What Matters Most: Teaching for America’s Future.” The report states, “Student learning in this country will improve only when we focus our efforts on improving teaching.”

The group asked the state board to adopt the report’s five main goals and to join in the commission’s efforts.

The five goals are: developing and enforcing strong standards for teacher preparation, improving teacher education programs, putting qualified teachers in every classroom, providing career advancement and rewards for the best teachers and making schools learning environments for both students and teachers.

Fox cast the only vote against the goals and was joined by board member Harold Davis in voting against joining the commission.

Davis said he doesn’t know enough about the group.

Board Chairman Judy Meyer of Coeur d’Alene said the board appreciates the Albertson Foundation’s help. “It is not because we’re going to have Albertson’s running education,” she said. “We are running education.”

, DataTimes