Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett -- no, not THAT Tony Bennett -- wants students to get every bit of the minimum instructional time they're entitled to.
It's a sensible policy, one that's hard to argue with. Unless you're Mr. Obstructionist himself, that is.
Mr. Obstructionist also goes by the name of House Speaker Pat Bauer, the South Bend Democrat who is becoming adept at building coffins for good ideas.
Bennett, the Republican elected last November, told The Times and others that starting next year, he would require schools to make up every day that classes are cancelled because of poor weather. A two-hour delay would still be acceptable.
The state schools chief also said half days split between instruction and teacher training or parent-teacher conferences would no longer count as full days toward the 180-day school calendar mandated by the state as a bare minimum.
"One of the things we absolutely must project is a sense of urgency about the state of education in Indiana," he said.
Hoosier students compete not just against each other and fellow Midwesterners, but globally as well. And students who spend more time in the classroom getting actual instruction are likely to be the winners.
Despite this, House Democrats childishly passed legislation Thursday that would overrule Bennett.
House Minority Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, joked that he has advised Bennett not to make major policy decisions until after the legislative session ends.
Those of us with slightly longer memories will recall the lawmakers' reactions when former Bureau of Motor Vehicles Commission Joel Silverman announced just after the General Assembly's final day in 2005 that 12 license branches would be closed. The lawmakers squawked loudly.
If Bennett waits until after the session to make a major policy decision, he'll want to wait longer than Silverman did.
But really, what's so bad about wanting the students to get every bit of instruction the state already says they need?
This was a bad move by the House Democrats who supported the legislation. It shows they are petty tyrants, not the strong supporters of education they should be.
The legislation won't go anywhere this session, but it puts the House Democrats on record as being against public education.
They deserve dunce caps and the corner for this maneuver.
Editorial Page Editor Doug Ross can be reached at (219) 548-4360 or (219) 933-3357 or Doug.Ross@nwi.com. The opinion expressed in this column is the writer's and not necessarily that of The Times.
