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, parents and students for consistent and adequate K-12 public education funding, ...

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 legal obligation are vandalizing our history and undermining our future. Their ...

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 property tax relief will go towards replacing our cars' battered struts and shocks...

A TEACHER’S SPEECH

A TEACHER’S SPEECH by Sheila Plotkin The following speech was given by Sheila Plotkin at a Rally for Public Schools in Sun Prairie. I taught in the Milwaukee Public Schools Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program for 28 years. I am here as a retired teacher, and as a proud American. I am here because I believe that today, we stand together on common ground, and I am moved to begin with the most common ground of all. We all know these words well, perhaps too well. I ask you to imagine that you are hearing these words for the first time. Please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of Ame...

Rocky Balboa Political Types

A letter to the editor Rocky Balboa political types appear attractive in Wisconsin these days. Portraying themselves as a fighter makes a winner. Voters appear not interested in the details such as who and what the fight is for, and how it will affect me. Adam Jarchow, our current assembly representative, fought hard against Polk County's efforts to improve and preserve our lakes. Had he won, the result would have been deteriorating lake water quality producing lower property values and increased taxes for some. Water quality deterioration lowers property values and taxes. Those tax losses get collected from other taxpayers in the county - you and ...

SIT UP AND PAY ATTENTION

A letter to the editor: Sit up and pay attention! Pardon me. I just used what my son calls my school teacher voice. It's that important, neighbors. On January 14th the Wisconsin legislature holds hearings on the so called school accountability bill (A co-sponsor is Assemblyman Jarchow). I urge you to watch carefully as the party of small government takes more control away from our local school boards. The plan is for a 13 member academic review board established by the legislature to oversee and grade public schools, for-profit schools, and private voucher schools. Sounds good, right? So far, of three education sectors receiving taxpayer ...