House Journal: Page 1081: Wednesday, April 4, 2001
I recall a guest editorial in the Des Moines Register in 1997 (4-20-97) when
California economist Arthur Laffer derided a small tax cut and also noted that "good
policies always pass by the skin of their teeth…nothing truly great is ever so clear as to
command a massive plurality." This is unadulterated nonsense. Some of the greatest
most far reaching legislation passed by the Iowa legislature during my time passed by
enormous majorities when the two parties and the legislative and executive branches
came together.
The point of all this is that I think there is a consensus in Iowa today that we have
to increase teachers' salaries. It may not be possible to do as much as we would like to
do this session because of the drop in revenue, but still a consensus does exist.
Therefore, given the makeup of state government today, a legislature controlled by one
party, but by a very narrow margin, and an executive branch by the other party, the
only way legislation will be passed is if both parties play a major role in the drafting of
the school legislation and approve the final product. To try to do otherwise is at best
misguided and at worst cynical. I can also tell you that there is more cynicism toward
government today than there has been for a long time. That cynicism is not lessened by
bickering over what the public considers intricate provisions in the proposed
legislation. I do not think there is any political advantage to be gained unless you can
pass a reasonable bill to increase teachers' salaries and you will not pass it unless
there is a consensus among the two parties and the Governor.
I have seen the statistics showing an upcoming shortage of teachers in this state.
While increased salaries are certainly the most important ingredient in attracting
more young people into the field, it seems to be that other programs should be
considered.
For example, rural Iowa has many highly intelligent people who are unable to
travel any distance to attend college or university. They are essentially locked into
their region by family matters. These people would be excellent teachers. They will not
be recruited away and, they will teach in schools in their region.
The University of Northern Iowa and the Des Moines Area Community College
have such a program in Carroll where DMACC teaches the first two years following
UNI requirements. The second two years are taught by UNI faculty both in person and
over the ICN. Of the twenty-five graduates from this program to date, twenty-three are
teaching in schools in the region. The program would not require new bricks and
mortar and would only involve some additional personnel. They could be taught on
community college campuses throughout the state. It will only be successful, however,
if both sectors work together in a cooperative fashion, do not try to make the program
into a profit center and use bona fide faculty. If the college does not utilize instructors
who would qualify to teach on their campus, then the programs become a farce which
must be guarded against. I strongly recommend that such a program be put into effect
statewide to help address our teacher shortage.
Additionally, I understand that the teacher shortage is more acute for certain
subjects. Why not give school boards authority to establish pay differentials? If a board
determines that they have a special need for a physics teacher, why shouldn't the board
have authority to establish a salary above the level that teacher would receive under
the district's salary schedule?
© 2001 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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