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Wisconsin Teachers Chatboard

Florida Teacher Supporting Wisconsin Teachers

by Step By Step

Feb 20, 2011

I support Wisconsin Teachers and all state workers in Wisconsin.

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oklahoma supports wisconsin

by ok educator

Feb 20, 2011

Wisconsin is not alone in this battle againist teacher unions. In oklahoma we are behind you! We are fighting bargaining rights, due process, pension plans and other issues that are taking away teachers rights. It is sad that legislators are blaming us for the budget down and that if all of this rights are taken away then the buget is solved.

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Neal Look below.

On 2/20/11, ok educator wrote: > Wisconsin is not alone in this battle againist teacher > unions. In oklahoma we are behind you! We are fighting > bargaining rights, due process, pension plans and other > issues that are taking away teachers rights. It is sad that > legislators are blaming us for the budget dow...See More

Feb 20, 2011

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Don't give in!

by Shelley

Feb 20, 2011

Don't give up! Illinois teachers are with you!

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SUPPORT are fellow teachers in WI and anywhere else.

by Isn't that what this board is all about? nfm

Feb 20, 2011

nfm

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Liz Steen On 2/20/11, Isn't that what this board is all about? nfm wrote: > nfm

Support "are" fellow teachers??? Really? Is this a teacher posting this?

Feb 20, 2011

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I'm standing up for Wisconsin teachers-Indiana need you

by Ind teacher

Feb 20, 2011

I'm a teacher from Indiana..and we're about 2 days behind what you are going thru. Our state is very Republican which is our governor's party.. He is out sink our collective bargaining. I've got threee yrs to go before I can retire. I may not make it. - Good luck to you.

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support WI Teachers and all teachers

by Terry

Feb 20, 2011

It is easy to blame any teacher for the lack of pasting state test, but the bigger picture is the students making efforts to learn. We test all student including the severe special education students with the same test at their grade level. I feel the frustration that they have for six days of state testing. After that we test 2 weeks out of the mo...See MoreIt is easy to blame any teacher for the lack of pasting state test, but the bigger picture is the students making efforts to learn. We test all student including the severe special education students with the same test at their grade level. I feel the frustration that they have for six days of state testing. After that we test 2 weeks out of the month to show achievements on their IEP's. We are dictated constantly in how to teach every year. Teaching is no longer giving the best education because the state government is taking control and demanding a lot of paperwork and documentation of projects from inservices. We have less time to teach but a lot of testing if given now days that prove limit elements of one's learning. The teacher protest is admanant and needed in order to contain a balance and rights for our schools. It's not about pay and pensions. If you want a public school in your community you need to be concern about what the Republicans are doing. We are not improving schools by shutting them down, firing teachers are decreaseing funds. The no child left behind is a false testing and failure to all schools in the United States. I wouldn't expend a learning disable child, drug child, a mental challenge child and many other children to be at eighth grade skills in eighth grade. Some children don't have the ability to remember data, apply skills, but I do expect all children to learn at their rate and give them the best education possible. It is hard to do that when every year their are cut backs with staff and schools decrease their budgets. No one wants to stand up and support schools. The parents need to be more involved with learning at home. Schools are not the home. I afraid we are loosing our public schools and many more children are not given an education. I know that some do home schooling and from my experience that is a way to drop out of society. Their are a few that have good parental support and will succend with home schooling. There are others that are abused and neglected. We have multiple situations and problems in schools. We need to get back to the community and have the community give more support that the state and federal government. I wouldn't recommend teaching to the young people. The burn out rate is fast in the first five years. You can not make parents, principals and other teachers happy. We need to work together not destroy education. I support all teachers. It is dedication and frustation. It is not easy going everyday in the classroom with students that don't respect you. They swear, throw things, wreck the bathroom, come to school smelling bad day after day, plus thousands of other things. I have seen it all. We are not their to solve every problem from home, medical problem and emotional problem. The Wisconsin teachers should have the right to relate to their principals, school board and state department. Their are in the ones that have to implement the new teaching methods. Stay in their and I pray for your future. We need everyone to stand up and say enough. The graduation in the midwest is high and I am proud to have taught 32 years.

retired Iowa teacher

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Our students do less than 24th on international tests

by Ken

Feb 21, 2011

No offense to teachers, but given the statistics from testing our kids against those of countries that pay their teachers less and spend less on schools, you're not doing a great job for the most part.

Your unions spent a great deal of money trying to defeat Walker and failed.

Someone once said, "Elections have consequences!" and ...See More

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cole Actually I said, "Please don't blame the problem 'SOLEY' on the teachers'. Meaning they have some responsibility, but shouldn't bare the entire burden of blame. I didn't get into specifics - I feel like enough people talking on this board hate teachers already. I am discouraged as a teacher. It's not easy to love your kids and your job this much an...See More

Feb 22, 2011

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Because.. Why?

I) We have no common curricula; we expect all teachers to decide for themselves what to teach.

The lucky ones get a good texts and are encouraged to use it to dictate content. Many teachers have unusable textbooks-- the standard book for foreign languages in many places teaches students every verb connected to flying (take ...See MoreWhy?

I) We have no common curricula; we expect all teachers to decide for themselves what to teach.

The lucky ones get a good texts and are encouraged to use it to dictate content. Many teachers have unusable textbooks-- the standard book for foreign languages in many places teaches students every verb connected to flying (take off, land, ticket counter, etc.) but no colors, numbers or conjugation of "to be" in Spanish/French I. So they make up content; they might use a storytelling method to get kids talking but not to memorize anything, they might do a lot of culture-- from legitimate cultural information to making pinatas for 14 days-- or they might be grammar heavy/conversation light.

Other get textbooks too massive to cover everything; every teacher skips and chooses what to teach.. some do mostly textbook content and others do mostly non textbook content and just dip into the book from time to time.

Oh, but every state has standards-- all teachers meet them or get fired. So there is in fact a curriculum in place everywhere. That's just a myth..the standards aren't a curriculum; they are vague statements of idealized learning goals with no specifics. Many teachers even state that the standards are to know the goals of the class but not to dictate content. They are so vague that proving they have been met or not is impossible.

So what? Every second grader goes to their teacher knowing totally different things. Some can work with fractions and others have never heard of a fraction; some know the name of the first president and others don't get why their answer of "Obama" makes their peers giggle. This gap gets more and more pronounced as kids move through school.. and our kids get further and further behind.

II) We do in fact need better teachers. In Finland only the top 10% of college graduates can become teachers, but here many teachers are from the bottom third of their graduating class. DUH. What teachers earn is less than what you can learn with many blue collar jobs requiring maybe a two year degree-- but high school teaching is the most stressful job in America. In the school I STed in students had no textbooks and we had no access to photocopies. There was no lounge-- it was needed for classroom space-- and no way to show videos. We wrote up students and had no choice but to assume they made into in in school detention. Good teachers are less willing to put up with the crap for the salary, so they move on.

There is a cycle.. the less support/help teachers get the less likely talented people are to go into or stay in teaching; the less well prepared our teachers are, the less respect they get. When teachers lack respect, governments are willing to cut their supplies, pensions, etc. because "they aren't getting the job done anyway". Parents are also less likely to support teachers because "they aren't teaching my kids well".

III) In countries with better educational systems than ours, the whole culture simply does not tolerate the kind of behavior we see in our classrooms. I've been left notes calling me a total f--king b-tch and the principal ignored it. That would not happen in countries where teachers and education are respected. (By the way, I've faced behavior from rich spoiled students in Mexico that was far worse than most teachers deal with here.)

IV) We focus on progressive ideas of learning to learn, cooperative teamwork, making sure students are "discovering" new facts for themselves, etc. rather than content. This philosophy reigns supreme in all education classes. To be fair, the philosophy of education we have does have some advantages. I taught English to non native speakers here and Asians wrote "You make us think for ourselves too much" several times. But it means our students aren't learning as much content as other countries since more time is spent on students "discovery process" and less time is spent teaching them content.

2/21/11, Ken wrote: > No offense to teachers, but given the statistics from > testing our kids against those of countries that pay their > teachers less and spend less on schools, you're not doing a > great job for the most part. > > Your unions spent a great deal of money trying to defeat > Walker and failed. > > Someone once said, "Elections have consequences!" and they do. > > After all this is worked out, the unions involved might want > to seem a little less partisan and put more of an "It really > IS all about the children" face on. If they had done so > before the election, maybe Walker would have been defeated. > > He's looking at tossing a boatload of the poor and elderly > off Wisconsin Medicaid too, but none of the teachers and > union folk I see on the tube mention it... > > ...it's not important compared to things like having to put > your money into your healthcare and retirement, I guess. > > Sorry to sound so harsh, but a lot of people other than > teachers and government employees are going to suffer under > Walkers administration. Many much worse than you are. > > But you seem too self-centered to notice that.

Feb 22, 2011

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FROM NJ ....I LOVE YOU, WISCONSIN!!!!! ♥♥♥ STAND STRONG!! ♥

by DENISE

Feb 21, 2011

FROM NJ ....I LOVE YOU, WISCONSIN!!!!! ♥♥♥ STAND STRONG!! ♥

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teacher Protests

by Solidrity

Feb 21, 2011

Truly I am ashamed for my state. I went to school in a classroom of 31 kindergarteners and got an education that at the time was about the best you could get in the country. We are what now….near dead last? Our largest city is one of the poorest in the nation and its public schools there are not able to graduate more than 46%o of its attendees. T...See MoreTruly I am ashamed for my state. I went to school in a classroom of 31 kindergarteners and got an education that at the time was about the best you could get in the country. We are what now….near dead last? Our largest city is one of the poorest in the nation and its public schools there are not able to graduate more than 46%o of its attendees. This pathetic selfish and childish display by these public workers…the lying and deception, the vile words and despicable behavior are such a black mark on this state…..the way we must look to the rest of the world based on the news and photos makes me weep openly. You don’t look like champions of the human cause…..I don’t see you toiling all day and protesting at night on your own time. I don’t see you insuring your students know what right and wrong is and that lying and shirking your duties is not a good trait to have. I don’t see you teaching them the traits an employer will one day value…….no instead I see you perpetrating the stereotype of ignorance laziness, deception and greed we all associate with union members, I see you showing children that its okay to lie and run from your duties. I see you as despicable as the very Wall Street Fat Cats your leaders decry. Selfish, self centered, ignorant and yes stupid. You embarrass your children, your students your schools, your communities and your star…….you embarrass this nation. I for one, am proud of our new Governor. He was handed a mess and unlike the president hasn’t offered excuses and constant blame but instead real solutions. I am so embarrassed to be from this state right now, I have buried all my red and white and all my green and gold pride and I walk with my head hung….how could the great people who built this marvelous green haven of lakes and pristine small towns behave so badly. How did we come to think we were so entitled to our way of life at the cost of others? How could we stomp on our neighbor’s paychecks and spit in their faces as their property taxes soar, only so you could have the union power for more paid sick days and an earlier retirement? I will never look at another public servant the same after this….ever. I will always hold a little scar on my heart where once I cradled you. I will wince as I pass you in your public classrooms, I will cringe as I see you plow my streets. I will think twice when the police call for funds for their circus and I will be far less inclined to share a kindness with one of you. I hope you find support amongst your peers, you’re going to need a lot of it in the coming days as the tax payers of the state begin to turn their backs on you. I won’t expose my children to the details of this event, now or in the future. I won’t try to explain your antics, your lies, your vile tongues and most despicable behavior and lack of civility. I won‘t mention what state I’m from and the title of Cheesehead is officially retired in my home. Rejoice oh you union employees of the state, celebrate you teachers of the public masses, scream victory you prison guards….but I’m here to remind you, you do so ALONE!

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be more melodramatic why don't 'chya Can you say melodrama?

And public union workers, you're not alone. There are many non-"unioners" who support you.

I understand that you have conceded to pay for your benefits and that Walker is trying to destroy the bargaining rights of the working people. Thank you for trying to help the budget problem in Wisconsin. Some of us ...See MoreCan you say melodrama?

And public union workers, you're not alone. There are many non-"unioners" who support you.

I understand that you have conceded to pay for your benefits and that Walker is trying to destroy the bargaining rights of the working people. Thank you for trying to help the budget problem in Wisconsin. Some of us know you took lower wages in exchange for benefits and that now you are willing to lower your wages even more.

And some of us also know the graduation rate is not the sole responsibility of teachers. Some of us actually believe that parents are responsible for the children they bring into this world. We also realize that some people whose children go to middle class and wealthy suburban schools have no idea how hard it is to teach in a poor urban school. Not all of the people in these nicer areas stop to think about how unfair the funding is for schools across the nation or how devastating the affect of poverty is on the ability of our children to learn. Thank you for going to a school district that needs you so badly. You are amazing, caring and selfless. You are a hero and I'm sorry people don't commend you more often.

I guess I notice that the weaker the unions have gotten in the last 30 years, the crappier our country has gotten. The conservative corporate propaganda is working all too well. People have to unite to get anything changed. Amazing things have been accomplished in this country because of people uniting and fighting for what is right together. And unions are built upon that notion.

And solidrity, I highly doubt ALL of the government union workers are at the capital. So maybe you shouldn't be so judgey and make such vast assumptions about every government worker in a union. 'Cause your assuming really does and will make you look like an ass..ume.

On 2/21/11, Solidrity wrote: > Truly I am ashamed for my state. I went to school in a > classroom of 31 kindergarteners and got an education that at > the time was about the best you could get in the country. We > are what now….near dead last? Our largest city is one of the > poorest in the nation and its public schools there are not > able to graduate more than 46%o of its attendees. This > pathetic selfish and childish display by these public > workers…the lying and deception, the vile words and > despicable behavior are such a black mark on this > state…..the way we must look to the rest of the world based > on the news and photos makes me weep openly. You don’t look > like champions of the human cause…..I don’t see you toiling > all day and protesting at night on your own time. I don’t > see you insuring your students know what right and wrong is > and that lying and shirking your duties is not a good trait > to have. I don’t see you teaching them the traits an > employer will one day value…….no instead I see you > perpetrating the stereotype of ignorance laziness, deception > and greed we all associate with union members, I see you > showing children that its okay to lie and run from your > duties. I see you as despicable as the very Wall Street Fat > Cats your leaders decry. Selfish, self centered, ignorant > and yes stupid. You embarrass your children, your students > your schools, your communities and your star…….you embarrass > this nation. > I for one, am proud of our new Governor. He was handed a > mess and unlike the president hasn’t offered excuses and > constant blame but instead real solutions. I am so > embarrassed to be from this state right now, I have buried > all my red and white and all my green and gold pride and I > walk with my head hung….how could the great people who built > this marvelous green haven of lakes and pristine small towns > behave so badly. How did we come to think we were so > entitled to our way of life at the cost of others? How could > we stomp on our neighbor’s paychecks and spit in their faces > as their property taxes soar, only so you could have the > union power for more paid sick days and an earlier retirement? > I will never look at another public servant the same after > this….ever. I will always hold a little scar on my heart > where once I cradled you. I will wince as I pass you in your > public classrooms, I will cringe as I see you plow my > streets. I will think twice when the police call for funds > for their circus and I will be far less inclined to share a > kindness with one of you. I hope you find support amongst > your peers, you’re going to need a lot of it in the coming > days as the tax payers of the state begin to turn their > backs on you. > I won’t expose my children to the details of this event, now > or in the future. I won’t try to explain your antics, your > lies, your vile tongues and most despicable behavior and > lack of civility. I won‘t mention what state I’m from and > the title of Cheesehead is officially retired in my home. > Rejoice oh you union employees of the state, celebrate you > teachers of the public masses, scream victory you prison > guards….but I’m here to remind you, you do so ALONE!

Feb 21, 2011

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Facts You May Not Know

by Beth

Feb 21, 2011

For the past 20 years, we teachers in Wisconsin have had our salaries and benefits capped at 3.8% under the QEO (Qualified Economic Offer). This means that during all negotiations, our salaries, pension plan, health insurance and any other items that would cost money could not exceed 3.8%.

At my school district, and many others, we have p...See More

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Ann Bracken I am sorry to hear this. There is angry rhetoric here in Maryland, but so far,t he unions are not on the chopping block....just the pensions. We are with you though!

.There is a lot > of misplaced anger and blame. They should be mad at Wall > street,insurance companies ,corporate criminals and 2 wars > instead.They have ruined th...See More

Feb 22, 2011

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Neal We don't want you to feel sorry for us. WHO WAS IN CONTROL IN 2002? You have an awfully short memory if you've already forgotten the Bush years.

Form a Union. You've already been screwed the way they want to screw us.

Maybe YOU should take to streets and organize to get what we have! Don't hate us cause we're willing to put our ...See MoreWe don't want you to feel sorry for us. WHO WAS IN CONTROL IN 2002? You have an awfully short memory if you've already forgotten the Bush years.

Form a Union. You've already been screwed the way they want to screw us.

Maybe YOU should take to streets and organize to get what we have! Don't hate us cause we're willing to put our jobs on the line... We're not overpaid, you're underpaid so JOIN US.

Most of any benefit your Slave-minded employer "leaves" you is to keep you from moving and joining or forming a Union.

Look at corporate workers overseas (yea the sewers, car makers, and widget makers) NAFTA was about preventing Unions from going to 3rd world countries and Organizing labor. THAT'S the Republican vision for America. Wealthy business owners who'll have all the services we currently enjoy publicly, because they be able to pay for them, while the "working class" lives in ghettos, with no public services at all.

Can't you understand the rich don't care about your plight?

Wake up and smell the coffee. Do it now.

On 2/21/11, Mark wrote: > So, it's okay that Gov. Doyle gave into the unions for THEIR > vote, but it was wrong of your current governor to do the > same with big business for THEIR vote?? How is what your > current governor did any different than the last one? The > fact is, if you want to keep big business (and jobs) in > Wisconsin during tough economic times, you've gotta be > competitive. If that means cutting corporate taxes to keep > jobs from leaving the state, then he's gotta do it. I think > the bigger issue is that teachers and other government > workers are paid through taxes. A strike or demonstration > against the government is a strike or demonstration against > them...not a private business. If it's any consolation, our > salaries have been frozen since 2002, we pay three times as > much for our health insurance as we did in 2002, and the > company no longer matches our 401K. I guess it's just hard > to feel sorry for one group of people making more salary than > you and getting better benefits than you...especially when > YOU are the one paying the tab. > > > On 2/21/11, Beth wrote: >> For the past 20 years, we teachers in Wisconsin have had our >> salaries and benefits capped at 3.8% under the QEO >> (Qualified Economic Offer). This means that during all >> negotiations, our salaries, pension plan, health insurance >> and any other items that would cost money could not exceed >> 3.8%. >> >> At my school district, and many others, we have paid 10% of >> our health insurance premiums for the past 10 years. During >> negotiations, we have asked insurance companies to come in >> and bid to get the best insurance for the best price. The >> insurance companies would not do this. As a result, we >> increased deductibles, went to a 3-tiered drug plan, and >> increased co-pays, all in an attempt to reduce costs. >> >> I do pay for my pension because the cost of that pension was >> included in the 3.8%. >> >> Many, many years we did not get an increase in salary >> because of the way we were forced to negotiate. Our last >> governor, Jim Doyle, did change the law but most school >> districts were just about to start negotiating under the new >> law. To my knowledge, no school district has bargained a new >> contract under this new law. >> >> Are we to blame for the mess our current governor has >> created? No. When he took office, our state was slated to >> have a surplus at the end of the year. Several weeks ago, >> he gave $140 million in tax breaks to corporations and >> people who supported him during his campaign for governor. >> He has created a false crisis to take away our bargaining >> rights. >> >> Just thought you should know some basic facts.

Feb 22, 2011

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