On the First Day of School, Teacher Puts Zach Lahn on Blast for Attacking Public Education
Sheffield teacher: “What does Lahn really know about our public schools, and how long has it been since Lahn actually stepped foot in one?”
DES MOINES – In a new letter to the editor on the first day back to school, a retired teacher put Kansas carpetbagger and career political operative Zach Lahn on blast for attacking public education and supporting Kim Reynolds’ unaccountable private school voucher scheme.
Lahn said he thinks Iowa “is spending too much money on education” and said he is “all for ESAs,” leaving the door open to even more school funding cuts. Lahn founded an unaccredited private school in Kansas that doesn’t hire licensed teachers, and he’s promised to bring that failed model to Iowa by ending “mandatory testing or some high school graduation requirements” in public schools.
Read more in the Globe Gazette: Lahn bad for public schools
- I’m a retired teacher who worked in Iowa public schools for 30 years. I’ve heard a lot from Zach Lahn, the Kansas millionaire running to be our governor, talking down our public schools and teachers. He’s also pushed more cuts to public education.
- But what does Lahn really know about our public schools, and how long has it been since Lahn actually stepped foot in one?
- Because teachers like me know exactly what the last decade of one-party rule has done to our schools.
- Public school funding hasn’t kept up with inflation. Lahn says Iowa spends too much on education, leaving the door open to even deeper funding cuts.
- School vouchers bankroll private schools with our tax dollars for the wealthiest families. Lahn wants to expand the program even further — including to homeschoolers — continuing to gut public education.
- Iowa Republicans and Kim Reynolds put schools and teachers in this position, and now Lahn wants to continue her failed legacy on education. He said he’s grateful for everything Reynolds has done. Well, I’m not.
- The future of public schools is on the line. There’s only one candidate in the governors’ race who has pledged to protect public education, and it’s not Zach Lahn.
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