Teachers treated poorly

Self-featherbedding politicians and administrators impose contracts on public school teachers, with the blessing of Idaho voters.

I will have incurred upward of $80,000 in debt by the time I earn my teaching credential. Does any right-thinking individual expect that I would even consider starting a career in Idaho? Spend time every day on the front lines with Idaho children while being dumped on at the same time? I don’t think so.

I’m thinking I will embrace the “free market” spin being touted by well-taken-care-of politicians like Butch Otter, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.

I’ll aspire to educate the children of the well-to-do. Earn a fair wage and the respect that I deserve for the credential I earned.

Meanwhile, those of Idaho’s children who have no choice but to have a public education will be left to the whims of short-term thinkers and however many willing, appropriately credentialed teachers are left in the state to teach them.

For Idahoans who can’t afford private schools for their kids, it’s looking like a race to the bottom for sure. Best of luck with the current plan.

Mike Kiernan

Spokane Valley