Foul Language In Front Of Kids A Real Crime In Idaho Sandpoint Lawmaker Protects School Workers In First Bill

Believe it or not, it’s a crime for a parent to insult an Idaho teacher in front of the students.

But light into a school bus driver? That’s just bad manners.

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, in her very first bill in the Legislature, wants to drop that distinction. Her bill would extend the insult law to protect school bus drivers and other school workers.

“I’m hopeful that people will agree that in front of a room full of kids, or in front of a bus full of kids, you don’t unload,” Keough said. “It’s not a good example to set.”

Keough, who is married to a teacher, said she never discussed this issue at home. Instead, she’s responding to a plea from Bonner County’s school transportation director.

“He had someone board a loaded school bus full of children, and attack a school bus driver,” Keough said. “It’s not really good for our children to witness that type of conduct.”

The 1979 law makes it a misdemeanor to “upbraid, insult or abuse” a teacher in front of the students.

“I hesitate to get involved in somebody’s free speech rights,” Keough said, adding she wouldn’t want to take away anyone’s right “to yell at somebody they’re mad at.”

The key is the “in the presence and hearing of a pupil” part of the law, Keough said.

Keough’s bill was scheduled to be considered for introduction in the Senate Education Committee Thursday, but the committee bogged down on other issues and ran out of time. Now it’s scheduled for today.

She acknowledged that the law doesn’t work in reverse - it’s not a crime for a teacher or a school bus driver to insult a parent. But, she said, “I would hope our teachers don’t yell at parents, or our school bus drivers. Even if they’re yelled at first.”

, DataTimes MEMO: IDAHO HEADLINE: Flinging insults in front of kids a real crime in Idaho