Education Upgrades
Idaho asserts education as lowest priority
If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to the newsletter or RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!It seems America took four steps forward while Idaho took eight steps backwards this election. I don’t mean one party is or will be better than the other. I mean that folks were tired of the same, [...]
How Idaho Falls can foster a Silicon Valley economy
I recently read an article about how your town could make itself into a Silicon Valley. The emphasis was on fostering a technology-startup economy that generates lots of cash and tourists. Wouldn’t it be nice if Idaho Falls could cultivate an environment that generated lots of startup companies, with the cash and tourist boom following?
The [...]
Four-day school weeks in Idaho Falls?
The Post Register reported Boundary County is reaping great rewards since switching to a four-day week. Fridays are off, and are a time many students engage in positive extracurricular activities.
Many corporations have allowed four-day work weeks. Some Idaho Falls businesses offer four-hour workweeks.
Should Idaho Falls and/or Bonneville School Districts switch to four-day weeks? What [...]
Homework before Video is Business before Pleasure
My smart wife started this school year on the right foot with a rule that our son must finish his homework every day before he can watch any television. No ifs, ands, or buts; no video is allowed for him until he finishes his homework and either mom or dad go over it to ensure [...]
School funding irony?
Idaho Falls Republican Jack Barraclough, Chairman of the House Education Committee, was quoted in today’s Post Register as complaining,
“What does the Legislature need to do to prove to education that we’re going to provide funding? It’s frustrating to be told that week after week, year after year, that they don’t trust us.”
Mary Haley asks [...]
Wean Idaho Universities Off Remedial Courseloads
I suggest Idaho forbids our full universities from offering any remedial courses (marked as non-credit, 0-level courses like Math 051). Instead, Idaho should task the community college system with providing remedial courses that students may need before they can enter universities.
The first reason I suggest this is that these remedial courses are usually things students [...]
Idaho community college system should be part of larger education solution
I attended a discussion forum on community colleges at the recent Democratic convention in Idaho Falls, and wrote a lengthy article about it. I’ve been following the discussions published around the states, and I see that interim Governor Jim Risch is planning to spend our surplus on property tax relief. This is a big issue [...]
Teacher Merit Pay Only Effective If Overall Increase
I have taught computers in public schools, so I can empathize with teacher concerns about merit pay. They are concerned it is just another ploy to avoid paying teachers any more, and it holds the potential to pay them even less.
I’ve also worked in corporate environments with bonus structures, so I can clearly see how [...]
Idaho Falls Art Installation Invitational
I propose an annual public event called the Idaho Falls Art Installation Invitational or maybe just a catchier Idaho Installation Invitational (IFAII, or III). It would be an annual event where the city and local businesses pitch in to commission an artist to visit Idaho Falls and build a public art installation.
Art intallations are multimedia [...]
Local restaurant run only by high school students
KIFI Local News 8 recently reported on Sandcreek Middle School’s great in-school food service, ‘The Firepit’. The report strangely says that no other restaurants offer something unique (?), but the unique aspect of ‘The Firepit’ is that students are the waiters, chefs, and delivery people. They field menus around school and in their classroom’s tabled [...]
Idaho Ought to Require Online Coursework
Michigan is considering requiring their high school graduates to take at least one course online. It was derided by many geeks who sniffed at the thought of proving their ‘tech-savviness’, but the learning experience is different, even for geeks accustomed to all manner of online life. I would say online classes are less about gaining [...]
Idaho Education Problems Point Directly to Solutions
The Post Register reported well on Idaho’s third-rate educational system. They were too polite, however, in just presenting the evidence and pointing to where Idaho is headed. I will be more blunt and painfully honest. Nicety political talk has gotten us to a dire state, so blunt words and an unambiguous messages is required here.
Idaho [...]
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