BOISE, Idaho, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Opponents called plans to overhaul Idaho's education system "union busting" and a "joke" during a rally at Capitol Park in Boise.
The Presidents Day protest Monday drew about 1,000 opponents of a reform proposal by state Schools Superintendent Tom Luna to cut 770 teaching jobs to come up with the money to fund technological upgrades, the Idaho Press-Tribune of Nampa, Idaho, reported.
The plan would provide laptop computers to ninth-graders in the state and mandate that all high school students take four online courses during their secondary education.
It's possible some of the bills in the reform plan could be voted on Tuesday, the Idaho Reporter of Boise reported.
Online courses "are a joke," said parent Rory Jones, adding his son didn't have one interaction with a human being when he took an online course.
George Ragan, a Capital High School teacher, said Luna should have offered his plan before, not after, the November election.
"If he had I think it would have changed the election," Ragan said.
