The new president of Iowa’s largest teachers’ union is in Dallas, Texas, for his first national convention as chief of the Iowa State Education Association. John Hieronymus says he’s having to hold his tongue in talking with presidents from other states after seeing the quality of programs of other states.This is the second day of the four-day National Education Association convention in Dallas. It has gathered nine thousand educators including about one hundred delegates from Iowa. Hieronymus says Iowa is facing financial problems but they are minor in comparison to many other states.He says Iowa is fortunate to have the quality education program it does and while there are budget concerns in Iowa, those concerns are magnified in other states. Hieronymus is a high school math teacher in Iowa City. He says there’s one issue in particular he’s interested in learning about during the convention down south.In light of the recent U-S Supreme Court ruling that found using taxpayer money for school vouchers is legal, he says he’s glad Iowans have repeatedly said we’re not interested in a voucher system.
