2013’s Bangerter

Over 20 years ago, when I was just starting on my path to become a teacher, teachers were already complaining about Utah’s huge class sizes and lowest per-pupil spending in the nation.  Then Governor Norm Bangerter told teachers to quit complaining and “take two aspirins and go back to work.”

We’ve made a lot of progress since then.  Now Governor Gary Herbert, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune, recently commented “A teacher could have gone to sleep 100 years ago, come back 100 years later and felt very comfortable in the classroom – because nothing has changed.”

That’s probably because he hasn’t been in a classroom for over 100 years.

For a (beginning) list of things that would freak out a teacher from 100 years ago, go HERE.

He did it again.

Since taking office, I have rarely been impressed, or even happy, with Governor Gary Herbert.  But he’s done it again.

Every county Sherriff in Utah, except for Salt Lake County’s, signed a letter to President Obama saying that they refuse to enforce federal gun laws that they think are unconstitutional.

State Representative Brian Greene, R-Pleasant Grove, has proposed a state law prohibiting enforcement of new federal gun laws in Utah.

Gov. Herbert’s response?

“I think we need to adhere to the law.  Nobody is above the law and, again, if we have laws that are passed that are unconstitutional…we need to fight that in court and change the law.”

“I have someone else out there who is worried about Congress sweeping in and taking away our guns.” … “I think it’s probably an emotional, knee-jerk reaction … If we don’t like the laws that are passed, if we don’t like the executive orders, we have a process in place.  Go to court.  We don’t have to have confrontations at the border.”

“…Utah will adhere to the law of the land.”

Standing up to the Gun Lobby in Utah.  As much as it hurts to say this, Gov. Herbert has guts.