Lawmakers, where R U?

I suppose political upheaval in Wisconsin is not much interest to those outside of Wisconsin. However, here it's causing quite a stir. Many school districts (Madison included) have shut down for the past two days as teachers join the 25,000 employees protesting the new governor's Budget Repair Bill.

I think it's important to add that our governor is not a college graduate. I think he doesn't value education. Wisconsin is "Open for Business" but we don't have the resources to educate it's citizens. The average UW Fox faculty salary is just over $47,000 per year. Some of my colleagues who are the sole breadwinner for a family of four will have their children qualify for free and reduced lunches and the state's children's health care program.

That's just sad. A few other things in the proposal - no collective bargaining for anything other than salary (that means K-12 teachers have no say in benefits or the academic calendar), no salary increase greater than the consumer price index (aka - the spending power you have now will never increase and at best will keep up with the cost of things like food), and a 7-10% cut in take home pay due to increased contributions to benefits. Our governor believes this is "moderate."

It's sad that we devalue the contribution of teachers in this society. It's sad that we value the dollars ($32 per citizen is the "benefit") in our pockets right now more than our children's future. Wisconsin is "Open for Business" - but feel free to also import your workforce because we don't have the tools to educate them. It's sad that we consider $48,000 per year (average Appleton Area School District teacher salary) a salary that's "too high."

This plan has been pushed through a Republican controlled senate with little to no public debate. As the UW-Oshkosh faculty says, any legislation should be able to "withstand the light of day." True - and perhaps good people won't leave, but how will you attract good people in the future? How can you tell a new teacher that they'll live in poverty - with no hope of gaining earning power? And for the University - the state keeps reducing it's support so that students pay nearly 75% of the cost of their education. THAT'S WHY tuition rises, when I was in school the state of IL picked up 3 times that much. The university isn't padding it's coffers with Big Ass Tuition Increases.

I don't know where all the money from the state went. I wish I did. I wish there was an infinite amount to give people. I know there's not. But I also look at Allison's class of 27 students, some with special needs. How can reach her full potential? I look at my colleagues who are worried about paying their mortgages on houses that can hardly be considered extravagant.

Perhaps we shouldn't ask why government employees get what they do - but why private section employees don't? Why don't people have pension plans anymore? Why don't employers cover healthcare costs? In the last 30 years, those have gone by the wayside and we've gotten what?? A gigantic financial and housing mess. Yes - GREAT PLAN - everyone will be responsible for their own retirement savings, managing their healthcare..... oh yeah.... but we're not going to TEACH them how to. They'll just figure it out. Let's see how that pans out.

And isn't there a fundamental difference between a government and a business?

Finally, in my all-over-the-board blog post..... the WI democratic Senators went MIA. They can't vote if there isn't at least one democrat there. I hope it brings people to the table.