Idaho. The gem state produces 13 billion pounds of potatoes annually. It’s one of only four states that I have never traveled to. And now, I’m not sure I’m welcome there.
In March of this year there was news about Sarah Inama, a sixth-grade history teacher in Idaho who decorated her classroom with inspirational posters. Inama displayed messages in her classroom about respect, acceptance, encouragement and other motivational thoughts that, if I remember that far back, are messages Mrs. Mac and I tried to convey to our own sixth-graders.
One poster stated, “In This Room, Everyone Is Welcome, Important, Accepted, Respected, Encouraged, Valued, Equal,” and another showed children’s raised hands with the tagline, “Everyone Is Welcome Here.” God, how could she!!!
Inama was ordered to remove the posters, as they have been determined to be an illegal political statement, according to the Idaho attorney general’s office.
H.B. 41, which went into effect July 1, bans the display of banners or flags in K-12 classrooms that represent “political, religious, or ideological views, including but not limited to political parties, race, gender, sexual orientation, or political ideologies.” State Attorney General Raúl Labrador issued guidance on how schools should apply the law, determining that the policy applies even to vague messages promoting kindness.
Makes sense? Sounds like a pretty general edict? Nope — Labrador’s guidance specifically referenced Inama by name, and the phrase “All Are Welcome Here,” as examples to be stifled. Political viewpoints?? Come on.
Inama argued that messages of inclusion are not political, especially when both state and federal law dictate that public schools must accept all children and cannot discriminate.
“To say that ‘Everyone is Welcome’ in a public school system is not political, it’s the law,” Inama said.
In a local news interview, Inama said that after meeting with administration officials, she returned to her classroom, put the signs back up, and emailed her school’s principal to say “I just don’t agree that this is a personal opinion. I feel like this is the basis of public education.”
I must be stuck in the 80s, but I have to ask, Who exactly is it that is offended by such a poster? That’s not rhetorical; I really want to know. If you are offended, or if your sixth-grader is, please email me.
Because as much as I am trying to find the dog whistle here, and as much as I have agreed that we are all way too politically correct in 2025, as much as I truly TRY to see the logic in this effort, I cannot find the threat in kindness. I can’t find the devil in acceptance. I fail to see the danger in respect; in fact, I’d sure like to see a lot more of that in 2025.
Labrador tried to make me understand. In his official opinion, he stated that signs welcoming literally everyone to public education are not just benign classroom decorations. The new law bans school employees from displaying messages that show “opinions, emotions, beliefs or thoughts” about politics, society, religion, and other deeply offensive topics… like kindness?
FINALLY!! Someone is taking a stand against thinking in public schools. Why would we ever want teachers to have opinions, emotions, beliefs or thoughts?
If we don’t stop “Everyone is Welcome Here,” what’s next? Teachers could run amok, start giving out hugs or marking student papers with smiley faces… OMG, it is frightening to imagine.
And another new Idaho law requires libraries to require ID for anyone under 30 to check out books with adult or LGBTQ themes, while anyone, of any age, can acquire a long gun (like an AR-15) with consent of a parent or guardian. Without permission, they must be 18.
Sarah Inama resigned her teaching position.
Curt MacRae, a resident of Coldwater, MI, publishes regular opinion columns.
To be notified by email when a column is published, or to offer feedback, email rantsbymac@gmail.com.
Can’t blame her for leaving what a crazy world this that being nice is frowned upon