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.

Cell Phone Wars

Cell phones. Can't live with 'em; can't live without 'em. What's a teen gonna do?

Last year students were told to leave their cell phones in their locker or turn them off, but the habit of being connected and having a toy in class was so addictive they felt bare and vulnerable without them. So, when the phones went off in class or students were caught texting in class, phones were taken away and then given back at the end of the day.

An old fashioned rap on the knuckles. Did no good whatsoever.

This year, we were ready for 'em. Brought out the BIG guns, so to speak. The new policy was distributed to parents when they registered their kids in August: Phones would be taken away and kept for one week after first confiscation, and two weeks for the second, etc.

And, you know what? It worked. I didn't see a cell phone in my class at all. That's not to say there weren't some stealthy, inside the sweatshirt pocket texters out there somewhere, but---what a relief. I could teach without phones beeping or buzzing or distracted texters hiding phones in pockets, behind books, or up their sleeves. And, kids were still allowed to use them in our commons area before and after school and during lunch.
What a deal!

There was peace in the classroom, until---some "parents" began to whine when their kids had their cell phones taken away for a week. Duh. They knew the policy. But, they argued: "What if my kid were in an accident and couldn't call home? Would the school be responsible? My response? "Parents: you want your kid to keep the phone? Take the blasted thing away before he or she comes to school."

I do not get parents who continuously make excuses for their kids. Kids already make enough excuses for themselves without any help. Shouldn't we all be teaching them to live with the consequences of breaking rules? Shouldn't we be teaching them that it is rude, inconsiderate and distracting to have a cell phone on during class time?

I guess I should't be surprised. Last year, the reason the cell phones were going off a lot of the time is because their parents were calling them.

Many critics say schools are not doing their jobs of educating. But, schools cannot do their jobs if parents aren't going to do theirs, or if parents do not support school policies.

Whew, First Week Done!

Went to bed at 8:30 or 9:00 every night this week. Makes me wonder if I can keep this up for ten more years like I planned.

When I issue books to students, I have them put their "last name, first name" on a notecard, along with the name, condition, and number of the book they've been given. In Madeline Hunter fashion, I modeled it on the board using my name so they could SEE what I meant. When I collected the cards, one student had turned his in with my name at the top, just as I had put it on the board. Oh great, a smart aleck I thought. When I confronted him, he got embarrassed, "That's what you showed us to do." Love those literal learners.

First unit for juniors is the Native American Unit. Began with reading "High Horse's Courting," from Black Elk Speaks. All could relate to the "sick in the belly" feeling of liking someone and wondering if that person liked you back---a cross-cultural connection. Can't wait to study Wounded Knee and watch Lakota Woman.

Very impressed with my AP class. So much fun to be in a room with those who love to read and write. Yay!

Our President wants to talk to students about the importance of education. On the first day of school I shared an article about B.B King who wishes he'd had the chance to graduate from high school and college. Said he'd major in computers and minor in music.

Really confused about the fear factor that some citizens are voicing about letting our students hear this address. Too political, they say? Doesn't freedom of speech apply to the President, too? If we are to be good teachers, citizens, and parents, shouldn't we encourage our kids to hear the President out and then discuss his message?

We're educating kids, not ostriches.