[Vision2020] Columnist Grasping at Straws

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (July 8, 2011) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with thanks to Sue Hovey.

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Columnist grasping at straws

Obviously Town Crier columns aren't vetted for accuracy, as Eric McGilp's (Opinion, June 29) was filled with misstatements and factual errors.

Louise Regelin (July 4) and David Nice (July 5) refuted a number of those in their Daily News letters. Their responses motivated me to take issue with others. McGilp touts the Luna laws as being fair to teachers and resulting in contracts created through amicable bargaining. He should have delayed his conclusion until all the results were in.

One example: In May the school board in Cassia County told teachers they were wasting their time attempting to bargain, because the board would be implementing its own agreement as soon as the bargaining deadline passed. And so they have. And it's legal now. They also rescinded all parts of the district policy pertaining to teacher rights.

Grasping at straws in his attempt to castigate teachers, McGilp quotes National Education Association Counsel Bob Chanin. I have known Bob for many years, and I've heard him make that speech repeatedly. Bob does not say NEA members don't care about children.

Take another look McGilp, because what Chanin says is this: The fact NEA members hold legitimate educational ideas, the fact NEA members care about children and the fact NEA members have a vision of a great public school for every child; those legitimate claims are not important to many policymakers. NEA members are effective education advocates because they have power. Members of Congress listen to them and often make changes because the NEA with its 3 million members insists. The AARP impacts senior citizen issues because it has power. The NRA impacts gun laws because it has power. The NEA impacts educational policy because it has power.

And that, McGilp, is the obvious message in Bob Chanin's quote.

Sue Hovey, Moscow

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown

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