Teachers’ union membership in Idaho declined by nearly one-fifth from 2008-09 to 2011-12 — one of the steepest declines in the nation. These numbers come from the Education Intelligence Agency, an anti-union watchdog group, and were published Monday. The Idaho Education Association neither confirmed nor denied the reported drop in membership. IEA President Penni Cyr said union membership in Idaho and nationwide “may be reflective of shifting political priorities and economic circumstances”/Kevin Richert, The EDge. More here.

Question: Yeah, yeah, I know that the figures come from an anti-union watchdog group. But I'm not surprised that teachers would be leaving the union in view of political hostility against their union from the dominant Republican Party. Are you?