If I had a bucket list, I am sure *Stand up for what I believe in by protesting would be on there. This week I have a good reason for being so absent in blogger-world: I was crossing that off the list.
I live in Wisconsin. I would imagine that if you kept abreast of national news, you would have some idea of the huge governmental upheaval in the state right now. In the most brief, short version possible, our new governor presented a Budget "Fix" bill last Thursday that was supposed to be voted on this week that attacks public workers' rights by eliminating collective bargaining by most unions (except police, state troopers, and firefighters), among other far-reaching changes included in the plan.
This would have disastrous effects for my job. Personally, I would lose about $5,000 annually from my salary. We live paycheck to paycheck as it is. But beyond that, the teacher's union would lose all say in bargaining for things in contracts that affect the quality of student's education... like keeping class sizes low. School boards would have the power to put 30 students in a elementary classroom... or 150 if they wanted to. There are so many different aspects of why this bill is so horrible for the state of Wisconsin (and really, for everyone in the nation- because it has the potential to be precedent setting) that I can't even get into it all. Nor do I really want to, because frankly, it's been an exhausting week thinking and actively voicing my opposition to it.
So this week I joined thousands of educators and other public employees like firefighters, police officers, and other unionized workers on the steps and inside my state capital to actively protest the signing of this bill. I've always thought that if you do nothing when you have an opinion, then you have no right to complain if what you want doesn't happen. Over 40,000 people were there on Thursday and again on Friday. It was an amazing thing to experience.
If this bill passes, I will probably actively search for another position. My husband is already looking and would apply for jobs elsewhere. Not only do I not want to work in education in this state under these conditions, but I absolutely do not want the kind of education that will exist if it passes for Sam and Anna. Wisconsin is 8th in the nation for educational quality right now- where will it be after this?
Living in Canada is looking better and better...
(Side note- I won't publish any negative comments, so don't even bother typing one. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and this is mine. If you have a different one, there are other places you can voice yours.)
13 comments:
Three words: YOU GO GIRL. I think more people should get involved with the decisions of their local governments! If we all stood up for what's right, then a revolution of change for the better would occur in our country. I, for one, am proud of you. :)
PS- Move to Georgia and teach with meeee! lol
Haha, YES! Canada rocks!! Just move here and be done with all the crap. Free health care! Social services! A year maternity leave at 60% of your pay! Plus I get $150 bucks every month just because I have one kid.
I'm a teacher (on an extremely, extremely long hiatus) and my husband is a teacher, so I know that is a terrible bill, and would have terrible consequences if it was passed. I haven't seen this on the news (if its not on The View of The Talk I pretty much don't see it), but keep us updated on what happens.
Good for you!
Canada's a great place to live, though I don't know class sizes are all that great. At least health care is good and mat leave exists!
GOOD FOR YOU!!! I hope that the bill does not pass.
GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!
Anna- Georgia doesn't have collective bargaining right either.
Go You! Doesn't it feel great to really stand up for what you believe in? I hope it does not pass. I've been reading about it in the news, but your summary actually made more sense to me than anything I had read. Either way, it really is an awful bill and I hope the right people recognize that. Good Luck!
Good for you!!! Even though this doesn't affect me directly, as someone who is working on her teaching certification, I have to say that the concerns you have are very justified and very real. I think it's awesome that you got out there and stood up for what you believe in.
I've been thinking of you and wondering if you were down there or not. It's such a sad situation and I hope it gets resolved soon. Thinking of you! ((HUGS))
I've had my head in the sand lately, but I googled it and it sounds like you had an amazing turnout!!!
Virginia is a right to work state. I don't think our teacher's union has ever had much say, but I could be wrong.
$5000 would have me searching for another career also. And sadly, because I do love teaching.
I feel like polititions really don't get that we are investing in the future!!! And they have no clue about what is realisitic. Our state is working on a mandate that we have 150 minutes of physical ed a week (to fight obesity. This sounds great, but they won't fund it. They want regular teachers to be trained to do it, and they haven't considered where all of the extra PE will take place (in the EXTRA gym that we don't have?). OR what other curriculum it will take the place of. Sigh.
Hope your voice was heard loud and clear.
I think it is great that you and so many others are voicing their oppinions on the Wisconsin budget proposal. Teacher unions get a bad rap, but there is protection there for the educator and for the children.
I teach in California, and the budget has been awful. I'm not fishing for anything in particular here, but does the union have any ideas on how to fix the budget? I'm open to ideas too!
So sorry for the asshattery that is going down in WI. It's not about money, it's totally about usurping power and taking it out of the hands of the working masses and into the hands of the oligarchist power. I certainly hope cooler heads prevail once the Wisconsin Democrats we're hiding in our basements here in Michigan (haha) are forced to return to resolve this hot mess. Whether you agree with the stance of unions, or their bargaining chips, or the outcomes of their negotiations, it is un-American to silence their right to speak on behalf on their trade, to improve workers' lives. THAT kind of power is fundamentally American.
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