Doused with a Slushie

As I looked out at my students last week, I couldn't help but wonder how long I'd still be doing this teaching gig under the current proposed governor's budget deficit bill fix. I feel like I'm under siege. Or, my profession is, anyway. I feel slapped in the face, punched in the stomach, doused with a Slushie.

The Boss and the Bossed

Attended the big rally in Madison yesterday. Very inspiring. This recent attack on unions is a whole other realm of being a teacher that I wasn't prepared for.

Both private and public sector entities have agendas, and both could work on getting better at what they do. But, eliminate one, and there will be problems. They tend to make each other better and add some healthy competition.

The private sector's bottom line is dollars, and I don't want to go back to the days when workers are discouraged from thinking about how they could do their job better and make services better and SAFER for the public. Then, we are simply hired hands and backs who take orders no matter how stupid they seem: it is the boss and the bossed. And, the bossed are pretty much at the mercy of the boss, unless, in case of sexual harassment or dangerous working conditions, they decide to sue. And, what "little" person can afford to take on the boss?

The public sector makes an attempt at cooperative services. Sometimes, this works, and sometimes it doesn't. One can get an education, but that doesn't mean that person is necessarily qualified for a job. This is what makes private sector people disgusted with public, as they see pubic employees as their employees, even though those in the public sector pay taxes too.

It's Only Rights

Recently, there has been much unrest in our state and our community due to the sudden introduction of Gov. Walker’s controversial budget bill. We can’t let it divide our community.

We all live in Wisconsin; we all pay taxes; and we all want a good standard of living and hope for a better future.

Upon thinking the situation over and listening to all the talking heads on both sides, the one thing that seems to surface repeatedly is fairness. We all get disgusted with the Wall Street bankers; we don’t like it when we have to pay for something and someone else does not. We are being pitted against one another in this political controversy, and that gets us nowhere.

Unfortunately, this has turned into a private sector versus public sector battle, but we need to realize that we need each other. If public employees don’t have money to spend in the community, the private sector loses, too. I have an uncle who worked for a private company in Wisconsin and belonged to a union. He is now comfortably and happily retired thanks to the work their unions did for him. He agreed that good pay and working conditions attract better workers. He, as well as my brother who owned a business in Madison, voted for Walker so he would balance the budget. Neither had any intention of voting for union busting.

When I asked my uncle if he would have given up his bargaining rights, he answered a vehement: “No---never!” Both my brother and uncle said they would call their representatives tomorrow and tell them to vote no to the bill. The middle class needs to fight for this, or there will no longer be one. Nurses, snowplow drivers, sewer workers, police, postal workers, military personnel, firefighters, teachers, etc. are all rallying in Madison to preserve the rights of the middle class. These people may be you, your family or your neighbors.

We are all in this together. Don’t let this controversial bill pit us against each other. Please write emails and call your legislators throughout the state and voice your opinion today. They work for us, both private and public employees of the middle class.

Letter to P'ville Journal 2/20

Editor,

The faculty and staff of the Platteville School District would like to thank the parents and community for their support and understanding as we struggle to uphold our commitment to our students and our profession. Many of you have expressed your support directly and through your children. Again, thank you.

We are doing our best to come to school and do our jobs as teachers, counselors, secretaries, librarians, cooks, aides, custodians, coaches, advisors, and mentors while our minds and hearts feel the pull of duty to support our fellow Wisconsin educators in Madison who are rallying to preserve the long-standing quality of education for the students of Wisconsin. As you may know, many of us have taken personal days and spent our evenings and week-end making the trip to the capitol. We strongly believe this is necessary to uphold the quality of education in our state and our community.

Education and children are our priority; we work in the schools because we know these young people are our future. We teach them to stand up for themselves when they truly believe in a cause, and we are now modeling that behavior.

Platteville has always stood up for education; we are not going to sit down now. We would appreciate your continued support.

With sincere appreciation,

Mark Ludlum, President

Platteville Public School Educators and Staff

Wisconsin May be Open for Business---but our Schools Will be CLOSED

Everyone understands Gov. Walker’s attempt to balance the state budget, but snatching the bargaining rights from hard-working people is like hog-tying the cow before the slaughter.

Here are some points to consider:

• People who have owned successful businesses have had good workers, good customers, good lenders or investors, as well as public services such as schools, postal services, roads, etc. Why are we giving big businesses tax breaks and picking on public employees in order to balance the budget?

• How can you be a Badger fan without supporting the educational system it is built on?

• Public schools educate the minds of children no matter how much money their parents make. Is taking away people’s hope for a better life for their children a good way to balance the budget?

• One argument for Gov. Walker’s bill is that public workers do not pay toward their own health insurance or retirement; however, those who work in the public sector make at least eight to ten percent less than those who hold comparable positions in the public sector. Years ago, teachers and other public employees were offered benefit packages in lieu of higher wages. Now that health insurance has turned into a "golden cow," they want it back without talking about it.

So far, elected officials have used the “Do as I say, not as I do” approach. They need to take the proposed insurance and retirement benefit cuts first.

People who enter jobs in the public sector do so knowing that they will not get rich. These people understand that cuts need to be made, but the sacrifices must be done across the board.

Please let your elected officials know how you feel about this.

Walker Rant

When we study Thoreau in junior English, I talk about how Martin Luther King got his idea for peaceful protesting from Gandhi and Thoreau. These people believed that if the government did something objectionable, then it was the citizen's job, and right, to object.

So, consider this an objection.

Governor Walker's stance on refusing to negotiate with unions because "the state has nothing more to give" is infuriating and unfair. If it were not for unions, workers would not have decent wages, conditions and benefits. Granted, the state and national budgets need balancing, but why not set an example and start at the top?

Why can't the Governor show that he and the other elected officials are going to do some cutting too. I want to see them slice their salaries and benefits as much as they are proposing to do to the other state workers. Then, maybe people wouldn't resent it so much. It has begun to feel like a dictatorship that is accusing the workers for being at fault for the state's budget problems.

Walker should sit down with union reps and talk about what they can do to help make the most efficient cuts so that education is not compromised. This may take some time, but this budget deficit began many, many years ago, and it is not going to get repaired easily.

One would think that Walker would want his own two high schoolers to receive a good education from well trained, well educated, well paid teachers. Or, do his kids go to a private school? I don't know. But, that is what could happen if education and teachers become disrespected. What young person wants to spend five years learning and preparing for a profession that is not respected by our state's highest official?

Only the rich will be able to afford a good education for their children by sending them to private schools. Do we want this elitist attitude? Too many good, smart people have been educated in public schools.