What Act 10 Has Cost Us All - Our Public Education!

We covered Act 10 recently here, and also set up a facebook page for people to share their experiences! While many of the stories were touching and telling one stood out to me. I was given permission to share it here.

Governor Walker's attack on public employees was the deciding factor for me to end my graduate school pursuits. Our family simply couldn't afford to have me drive to Milwaukee from Green Bay to attend anymore, while simultaneously paying for child care. My wife's wages were severely cut due to bedrest in the hospital last year and maternity leave, but it was Governor Walker's cuts that drove our salaries down to almost qualify for food stamps and to qualify for WIC benefits. Actually, we likely qualify for food stamps this summer, as our wages always decrease in the summer and Governor Walker's cuts have pushed them even lower.

As for my wife, a teacher, that has been demonized as a 'bad teacher' and a 'parasite' throughout the year, she's been looking for work elsewhere. She teaches in De Pere at a great school, as everyone in northeast Wisconsin is aware. There were 1,250 applicants for her position when she was hired seven years ago. A couple weeks ago, she had three interviews in five days (one over the phone and two via Skype) with wealthy school districts in the suburbs of the Twin Cities.

Because these districts are wealthy, they are able to better anticipate future hiring needs and have the resources to begin the applicant search earlier than most districts, according to one of the principals that interviewed her. By searching for teachers early, these districts work to snatch-up the best applicants. All three districts offered her positions and gave her the choice of selecting whatever grade level she desired.

One of the principals called her five times and called her principal twice trying to get in contact with my wife last to offer her the job. We thought she would surely take a significant pay cut, because we've heard most schools don't honor prior experience when determining salaries. Plus, Minnesota leads the country in primary/secondary education and these are highly desirable districts to work in. Instead, she received a pay raise over the salary Governor Walker cut in the first place.

So, the accusation that only 'bad teachers' and 'parasites' are going to leave the Wisconsin teaching field are false. We love Wisconsin. We came here because of the quality of education here. My wife and I both earned our bachelor's and master's degrees in Wisconsin schools. We looked forward to sending our kids to Wisconsin schools. This isn't the case anymore.

A wise professor told me when I was considering graduate school, that I should go, because education is one thing no one can take from me. He was right; now my wife and I will take our education and experience with us. If we reversed Governor Walker's policies today, it would take at least a decade to get the education system to resemble its former self.

You can't get retired teachers and professors back. You can't get experienced professors back that took better jobs elsewhere. You can't get experienced teachers back that took better jobs elsewhere. You have to start over with new hires and work to hold on to the remaining wonderful educators and develop their talents. Still, the strain put on the experienced educators that remain in Wisconsin is severe.

The fallout at UW-Green Bay is extraordinary. I've been hired as a full-time adjunct professor for the next year in order to fill holes left by numerous professors. UWGB is hiring grad students to drive from Madison/Milwaukee to fill other teaching holes. Students aren't going to receive the high quality education I received as a student, yet they're paying even more than I had to. We're leaving Wisconsin for a variety of reasons, but the deciding factor is Governor Walker and his policies. If you're not aware of the effects his polices are having on schools and universities, please visit one of them and talk to teachers, professors, and administrators.

BS - Green Bay.

Act 10 has cost the state of WI $1 billion but in reality it has cost our great state so much more!

We have had a civil war, public workers who have worked so hard for us have been demonized, we have lost valuable experience in teachers and other professions that we will never be able to replace, local businesses are hurting because the middle class does not have the money to spend supporting them, $1 billion less of taxable income has come into the state, and much much more etc...

It is nationally recognized that for the sake of public education here and elsewhere, Scott Walker must be defeated. Please Vote Tom Barrett on June 5th.

One last story to take back to your community. Act 10 basically ended teachers unions in Wisconsin. Scott Walker pretends to be for Education reform< but wants to make sure teachers do not have a seat at the table. To be perfectly clear Scott Walker wants to "reform education" but he has no interest in hearing from or working with the teachers who are in the classrooms, with our children all day long.

To make matters worse, do you know who he has put in charge and listens to regarding education reform???

Disgraced lobbyist and convicted felon Scott Jensen and Rich in Retail! Instead of your degreed teacher who has dedicated their lives to education, being the ones who set Wisconsin education policy in the Govenor Walker administration it is now a twentysomething political hack from Delaware named Michael Brickman.

Wisconsin CAN and MUST do better!!