Comments on: Ed Super Wants Rules For Candidates Stricter Than President or Governor

By: Muck Raker

Muck Raker — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 22:36:29 +0000

Could this be the work of the Darth Vader-like “special assistant” some have characterized as being to Ms. Ybarra what Dick Cheney was to G.W. Bush?

By: Flyhead

Flyhead — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 17:47:18 +0000

Let’s consider, if you want to hire a manager of a football or baseball team, surely you would have wanted that individual to have played the game at one point in their career. Same goes for head of the State Schools, some career experience in the schools should be a basic requirement. There are plenty of qualified people with education experience that would make a State Schools Supt.

By: Matthew Hays

Matthew Hays — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 00:59:15 +0000

She wasn’t qualified by her own qualifications???

By: J Smith

J Smith — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 20:02:55 +0000

Eagle Writer – Dictators all over the world thank you for your support!

By: Eagle Writer

Eagle Writer — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 02:21:07 +0000

I know I am going off topic a bit but, J Smith (1): Getting the money out of politics in a modified free market capitalist economy is like getting fish out of the water in a hatchery. You “could” do it, but the purpose of the hatchery is to have fish in the water.

J Smith (2): Jimmy Carter, one of the finer men to have served as president continually reminds why he was an abject failure. He didn’t understand economics or the use of power then, and he doesn’t understand either today.

Corporations, companies, LLC’s partnerships, etc., ARE people. If I can market my soap, jeans, cars and beer, then I can market my tax beliefs, candidates, etc., as an individual or as an organization. We wouldn’t want it any other way.

By: J Smith

J Smith — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 21:11:30 +0000

JJ – Jimmy Carter just explained why the U.S. Is no longer a Democracy…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-zuesse/jimmy-carter-is-correct-t_b_7922788.html
We are an oligarchy, controlled by a few ultra rich folks, and a corporate media, and corporations that can pump unlimited funds into campaigns, since the passing of the evil Citizens United law, which says corporations are people.

By: Easterner

Easterner — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:48:11 +0000

This bill ought to be called the Anti-Luna law…. wonder why she is now bringing up the issue- now that she has had a few months to assess the department.

By: JJ

JJ — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 14:45:54 +0000

It is always suspicious when an incumbent seeks to make the field of future competitors smaller, this seems self-serving.

If higher qualifications for this position are needed, then it should be a citizens initiative or a collaboration of school systems/teachers.

By: JJ

JJ — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 14:43:49 +0000

On one hand we are a democracy, we should be able to elect anyone the majority wants regardless of qualifications. On the other hand maybe the public is better served by laws requiring candidates have some level of experience.

1975 Age Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination based on age for employment, yet many elected positions such as this, which is a form of employment, openly discriminate by age with required years of age.

My biggest concern is the requirement the candidate be working in the public school system or state educational system. I think there are many qualified candidates who work for private schools and might be prohibited from running. Also I think the public schools are broken, an outsider might bring new ideas.

A quick google search of best schools in Idaho, 4 of the top 5 were charter schools, not traditional public schools. (schooldigger.com). I know there are some crazy bible-thumping charter schools, but there are some other charter schools with emphasis on art, science, IB programs, etc which have academic performance and college placement much higher than public schools.

By: Eagle Writer

Eagle Writer — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 02:07:02 +0000

Dave, I will leave it alone as you are now changing terms. My analogy was if a chief pilot was elected, they should be a pilot.

I agree that an MBA will suffice for a hospital administrator but not for a chief of surgery.

But we have a state board of education of which the members do not need to be credentialed. This should not be confused with the State Department of Education which is comprised of professionals and directed by a state superintendent.

If they are a superintendent they should have the credential, otherwise we should change the title, and then have two lay state boards of education – evidently your solution.

I’m off, but at least we stayed on topic…