On Retire now, teachers union advises
Posted on January 11 at 7:54 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
luvujvl: I don't think many teachers want to retire, they would prefer to remain. The problem is teaching is a profession and teachers need to pay mortagages, have worked years for their pensions, and need health insurance. Why would someone who has worked at a job for 20 + years want to continue at this point. I don't think it is a lack of love for what they do. Look at any job and ask any employee whether public or private. If there is a potential to lose benefits which they have earned or may be reduced, who wouldn't retire to keep them. Throw in the sentiment that teachers are not worth what they are paid and are consistently bashed by people, I wouldn't want to be a teacher either. At one time, teachers were seen as an asset to a community. it's sad that this has changed in the minds of many.
On Retire now, teachers union advises
Posted on January 11 at 7:42 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
It's just sad that teachers are placed in a situation where they are seen as a bunch of money grubbing, freeloading, opportunists. Receiving fair pay and benefits shouldn't be too much to ask and it shouldn't be too much to ask a school board to work with those they employ. Teachers have a direct inpact on job growth, trained employees, and producing an educated community. With all the talk of accountability measures; if good teachers leave, there may be some money saved but the quality of education provided to students is going to suffer. I know many teachers who have left the public school system all together for the private sector in jobs that have nothing to do with education. They were all above average educators. The effects of today will affect our children many years to come, I know of many students, who looked at becoming teachers, are now focusing on different professions and the quality of teachers will be suffering for numerous years. It would amazing to see governmental bodies focus on the future and think about the ramifications of their decisions.
On Beloit College eyes riverfront project
Posted on October 16 at 12:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Those who want to rip apart Beloit really should have a clue to what is going on in Beloit. I moved to Beloit from Janesville about 4 years ago (after growing up in Janesville) and I would never move back to Janesville. For a city the size of Beloit, there are so many things to do and there is a sense of community and pride by those in Beloit. Beloit College is a fantastic asset to the community and the State of WI. I could care less what Lemke feels, Beloit is a tremendous city and the progress Beloit has made is undebatable and very recognizable. Im proud to be part of the community!
On 'As Goes Janesville' debuts locally
Posted on October 9 at 11:57 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I thought the movie caught a very difficult time in Janesville's history. I also felt the issue of politics getting in the way of improvement needed to be pointed out. I'm not going to slam 5.0. I don't necessarily agree with how they are going about trying to better the economy, I do not question their intentions. People have different views, different priorities. I find it hard to beleive that this group is intending to alienate and cause further havoc on the community. What needs to be done is for all sides and all groups work together instead of the business versus labor, democrat vs republican, wealthy vs poor. I think our state and country has lost alot of sense as a community. It is about what each person can get individually and not what is the best for the majority of people.
To see campaign (democrats and republicans) contributions and elections spend millions and millions of dollars is just sickening - How about putting that money toward our deficits or services? paying off our debt will benefit all these campaign donors far more than puttng it in some sleaze, untruthful, negative commercial and politicians spouting a bunuch of lies about what they beleive, although their beleifs tend to go through some evolution from when the election process starts and ends. I never thought I would see the day when the unemployment rate drops and a whole segment of the population is disappointed and feels some conspiracy voodoo is taking place. Lets look at ourselves, we are hurting each other waiting for those in one political party or another to fail. We should be celebrating any achievements we reach. At some point we need to learn how to get a long and work together. We are supposed to be the most civilized people in the world but we still engage (yes I let my emotions get the best of me too) in such negativity and we seek and act toward failure based on our biased and unproductive self benefit. We have to realize we do this and make an effort to get along. I know sappy and wordy comments. Just so very tired of the lack of attention toward people in general.
On Janesville School District might need to hire more teachers
Posted on September 12 at 11:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
TCB,
I sent all my kids through a private school. I did so because I wanted the faith element in their education. I find it amazing that you feel only the wealthy like Obama can send their kids to private schools. My youngest is a junior in high school and I am still struggling to pay the private school tuition from the time my kids attended. I volunteered at least 20 hours or more a week at the school in various activities and my wife and I worked our tails off to make sure they got a catholic education. I oppose vouchers for a couple reasons. 1.) they don't work - look at Milwaukee 2.) eventually the government will begin dictating what and how a school getting public voucher money can teach. So in other words, the voucher system will create a public school within a private school setting with no differences between the two. I will pay to educate other children because it affects our community both economically and socially. If we all want an effective and strong public school system that meets the needs of students, we need to seriously look at funding the system other than by property taxes. This issue has been lost for many years and reform means a serious discussion on how we fund things in this state. Both Democrats and Republicans spend so much time collecting money for reelection and bickering back and forth to decide who holds the gavel, they miss opportunities to actually make a difference in the lives of those they are supposed to be representing.
On "Let voters choose their legislators"
Posted on August 31 at 8:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bill, I have to agree. We'll just keep trying to persuade and to keep dreaming. Wow, we just interacted on a blog about political issues without insults, without references extremism from the right or left.. Wow.. I didn't think that was possible on a gazette blog :)"
On "Let voters choose their legislators"
Posted on August 31 at 8:12 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bill, one more question. So are we supposed to just be happy with where we are? Should we just be happy with the best off two evils. The idea of America is unique, in fact our founding fathers made changes as they went. The American people have become willing to accept the system we have and we are long over due for a overhaul of how political entities govern. Until the rules of governing change, how we run elections change, nothing will change. Our government needs to restructure and republicans and democrats need to unite on that common purpose.
On "Let voters choose their legislators"
Posted on August 31 at 8:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bill,
I can't say i totally disagree with your assessment. Many times people get lost in the moment and attack others with different opinions, you and I are both guilty of this. The problem is that we do not listen to each other. For example, it is my belief that the republican position toward teachers is wrong. I am married to a teacher, a person who went back to school as a working mother with four children, living with her mother and assisting with raising two nephews, one of which was severely developmentally disabled. My wife, Mary, did not graduate from high school because she could not adapt to the traditional class room structure, some students need alternative options according to their style of learning. She went to Blackhawk Tech, got her GED, went to Beloit College and doubled majored in 3 1/2 years. During this time, she raised kids and volunteered in the community with homelessness, volunteered at her parish and children's schools. I worked as a restaurant manager for a small business that could not afford to offer me insurance. We used BadgerCare and as soon as Mary got another job, we dropped BadgerCare. Mary went on to go to Edgrewood College and got her Masters in Special Education, and now is close to a having a second Masters in school administration. How is her success any different than any business owner. But all during the Scott Walker experience, I had to listen how she is milking off taxpayers, how have all this money and my wife does not deserve it. She invests over $300 per school year into her classroom, she works over her contracted time. She comes home after dealing with children who have absent parents, kids who only get meals while at school, kids that don;t have a mattress and who have learning disabilities that go ignored outside of school. Why is it the fault of public employees for the financial disaster caused by our politicians, political party power grabs, and the influence of special interest groups.
Our political structure need reform and change and it must be significant. In other blogs and ideas I have presented some ideas. We need to change how our government operates, we need to work together, we need to eliminate the influence of political parties, and we need to restructure the election process. That is the only way we can change and it is the only way we can get candidates that should be running for the positions.
On "Let voters choose their legislators"
Posted on August 29 at 8:04 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Billnewbie:"Gerrymandering is one of the fruits of winning a majority. It's funny how so many people howl about the unfairness of it when their party has lost an election before redistricting time. Yet when their party has won, the status quo is just fine with them."
This is the number one reason of what is wrong with politics today and both republicans and democrats hold. Each time either party changes control, they have a sense of entitlement to do whatever and however they wish and find it acceptable because the other did it when they were in power. Both parties have lost any concept of representing people but who engage in the action of who can hold the gavel longer to promote ideaological partisanship. Then they blame everyone else for their actions and twist and manipulate to maintain that power. Without changes to the system in which we govern, a focus on fairness and equality and reform, nothing changes.
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On New Rock Haven Nursing Home is $250,000 over budget
Posted on April 2 at 11:53 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Woody, The county board is responsible for this type of funding. Usually not many in the county pay much attention or even know who their county board supervisor is. Which is sad because they deal with a huge chuck of money and most people have no idea what they are doing with that money. Most county board decisions are completed at committee meetings and not much info is provided at the actual county board meetings. I feel the county board is way too big with 29 members. From my experience, most people pay closer attention to city council/school board actions. The county board tends to slip under the radar.