Education
BOBFEST 2015
BOBFEST 2015
By Virginia Kirsch
Bobfest 2015 occurred September 19 in Madison’s historic Breese Stevens Field. It is the fourteenth year for this unique event. Hundreds of people came for a fun day oF progressive politics and music.
Bobfest is named after Robert M. “Fighting Bob” La Follette, who presented many speeches in many parks and fairgrounds throughout Wisconsin 100 years ago. He fought to put government back in the hands of the people.
Once again, Wisconsin is in the hands of moneyed forces that obey special interests and buy politicians for themse...
A FALSE NARRATIVE ABOUT TEACHERS
By John Spiegelhoff and Dale Moerke
Communities do not operate in isolation. Quite the opposite is true. We rely upon one another, celebrate the talents we all bring to our community and appreciate the professions which nurture the next generation.
So why has it become political sport to malign the teaching professionals which we entrust our children to each and every day?
Recently, one politician said the following about teachers: “If I were king in America, I would abolish all teachers’ lounges where they sit together and worry about “woe is us.”
Pl...
MRS. JUNTTI
Mrs. Juntti was my first and second grade teacher in a small Finnish community in northern Wisconsin. My mother was too busy working on our farm to read to me. I still remember, after 66 years, the sheer delight of listening to stories read to us by Mrs. Juntti.
One of my favorite stories was Horton Hatches an Egg by Dr. Seuss. The lesson in the story (an elephant sitting on an egg abandoned by the mother bird) reminds me to be faithful and persevere despite the challenging conditions surrounding me. The faithfulness of Horton and his perseverance have been ...
WHAT DO TEACHERS MAKE?
WHAT DO TEACHERS MAKE?
By Taylor Mali
A person was discounting a teacher’s work because he couldn’t see its value. After all, he reasoned, what did she “make”?
This is the reply he got, and I believe it’s worth repeating and pondering:
You want to know what I make?
I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ student feel like the winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence.
You want to know what I make?
I make kids wonder.
I make them ...
AN IMPORTANT COURT DECISION – Regarding Public Sector Union Representatives
AN IMPORTANT COURT DECISION
Regarding Public Sector Union Re-certification
By William A. Franks, Jr.
An important Court Decision regarding Public Sector Union Re-certification was issued by the Honorable John J. DiMotto, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 41, on July 31, 2015.
The Plaintiffs, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 150, and the Wisconsin Association of State Prosecutors (ASP), prevailed in four (4) cases filed against the Defendants, the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) and the Office of State Employment Relations ...
BACK TO ALEC, BACK TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS
BACK TO ALEC, BACK TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS
By Rep Chris Taylor (D-Madison)
On the heels of a newly passed state budget that again leaves our K-12 public schools behind without ample and consistent funding, I recently headed back to where the school privatization push all began — the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC.
ALEC and its members, including the American Federation for Children, have become more powerful than our citizens’ voices at the state Capitol.
Despite massive public urging from Wisconsin school superintendents, principals, teachers, ...
K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR ALL
K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR ALL
by Kathleen Michel of Grassroots Northshore
In its hasty and irresponsible passage of an omnibus motion funding the Department of Public Instruction, the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee disavowed the constitutional commitment that every member of the state legislature has sworn an oath to uphold.
This principle, that every child in Wisconsin has a 'fundamental right to an equal opportunity for a sound basic education,' is at the core of our state's best traditions and promises.
Those who seek to undermine this moral and ...
NO VOUCHERS COALITION
NO VOUCHERS COALITION
From their Facebook page
The grassroots group was founded by Pam Kobielus in July 2014 in response to the attacks on our quality public schools in Northern Wisconsin communities. In less than a year, the membership has grown, by word-of-mouth only, to more than 500 non-partisan public school parents and supporters.
The group has grown so rapidly because members strongly oppose money taken off the top of local public school budgets. This costs $64 million annually.
No Vouchers Coalition opposes the siphoning of public taxpayer money to subsid...
Statement on the Proposed State Budget
Statement on the Proposed State Budget
By Pete Flesch
Crawford County Board Chair
Despite the promised removal of language gutting Wisconsin's open records law, this proposed budget is still a disaster that deserves to be rejected. Here are some of the reasons why:
Transportation Funding: A path to nowhere
This budget does nothing to address sustainability of the transportation fund, where revenues continue to decline. Instead it puts half a billion dollars on the state's credit card and delays needed maintenance and repair. How far do you suppose that $5 of ...
Save the Date: Education, Inc. Documentary: “Follow the Money Corrupting Our Schools”
Save the Date:
Education, Inc. Documentary:
"Follow the Money Corrupting Our Schools"
Friday Aug. 14, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
AND
Tues. Aug. 18, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Marathon County Public Library
300 N. 1st Street
Wausau, WI 54403
3rd Floor Mtg. Rm (use elevator)
Please be aware of the 2-hour parking limit in the Library's main lot, we ask that you utilize the nearby parking ramps instead.
This documentary explores the hidden corporate and political interests attempting to take over American public education across ...