Jasper: You still think this bill is as good as law by tomorrow? Kind of hard to vote when you don't have quorum...

Hodag - and each year we slip further behind many parts of the world in education. Are their teachers represented by unions?

Taking the kids out of classes to march with them underscores another significant concern of the public regarding education. Most of the students marching with their teachers had no idea of the finer points of Governor Scott Walker’s proposal to bring teacher pension contributions in line with the private sector, a position the union called “slavery” just a couple of months before conceding the point. Nor do they understand the budget gap that Walker faces, or the nuances of economic policy, tax burdens, and growth policies. All they know is what their teachers told them — and that speaks to political indoctrination conducted in public schools by activist teachers, and the inability of parents and communities to weed out inappropriate politicking in classrooms.
Thirty years ago, the public saw teachers as underpaid and overworked professionals trying to prepare the next generation for leadership. These days, the teachers unions are doing their best to present an image of arrogant entitlement combined with an inability to withstand scrutiny and accountability.

Our educator's pay taxes as well. Have any of you given that a thought? Many educator's own homes and pay property taxes. They, too, are supporting not only themselves, but other public professionals as well.

Have you lost sight that the educators are preparing our children for the future? Our children are going to grow up to be future presidents, lawyers, doctors, and educators. What message are we sending our children by not supporting our educators?

How many of you are aware that the educators use their personal time to prepare lessons and grade homework? How many of you are aware that our educators often use their personal finance to purchase things for the classroom? The classroom that our children are in every day.

If Walker's proposal goes through, are you aware of the changes that are going to impact our children? Larger classes, less one on one with our children, less teacher aides. Our children, our future, will be severly impacted by the proposal.

Here is an idea: instead of bashing our educators, stand up for their rights and the rights and futures of our children.

Wait until all the state employees start whining when their dues go up to fund all the non-stop political advertising the union is running on the media.

maybe they can teach eachother how to retire on their own money. nothing is free. welcome to earth. they all have the right to quit their job just like they did for today. you are just a number and you will be replaced. quit crying

As a parent of students in the Edgerton School District, I hope the teachers that "called in sick" realize that your sanctimonious actions and attitudes have tarnished your reputations. As a taxpayer, I watched as the school property tax levy was increased 20% to fund your healthcare costs and retirement. In these hard economic times, it's time for you to put your big-girl and boy underwear on and press forward. I must also request that you refrain from your Anti-Walker propaganda during school hours.

To all of you out there that are always complaining welcome to my world and the reality of it all..

Catlitosway; Which union supported Gov Walker? I can't find anything on that.
BTW. My union retirement pension sign-up went from age 60 to 65 because it's in the red zone. (I turn 60 in 7 weeks)
States are slacking off on contributing pension money into trust accounts due to the fact they are broke.

Russ68, "but I think this episode should remove all doubt as to who the teachers really care about (hint: it isn't the children...)"
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I think you are simplistic and ignorant.
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Less than half, WAY LESS, of unionized teachers took off work to protest. How can that cause an educated person to conclude that the teachers don't care about?
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I respect that you agree with Governor Walker and his decision to RIP the RIGHTS of WI workers away. His decision to do that so quickly that veteran representatives have stated it is "unprecedented".
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I don't respect people questioning teacher(S) dedication to their profession or students by making the difficult decision to protest a decision that will impact them and THEIR STUDENTS.
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Govenor Walker is the person responsible for this, not the Unions. He made the decision to take rights of 75 years away from WI workers.
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I would wager that most of the teachers protesting feel horrible for their students and their students families. That said, they have families and this is their career. Perhaps they felt it was time that THEIR FAMILY and THEIR CAREER comes first.
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Why can't people respect that?

I am thinking that all these people who are worried about their kids due to the school closings should bring them to Janesville. We have a lot of unemployed folks who could babysit or have daycare! How ironic, the unemployed union workers babysit for the future unemployed union workers. That is if they don't get back to work.

Wow! Carlito had his wheaties this morning.
I think Walker did hear the people when thy elected him last November. We need a more balanced budget and tough decisions need to made. There are a few noisy malcontents out there now rattling every cage they can in Madison but they certainly don't represent all 5.5 million state residents.

The only dog I have in this fight is monetary because I am a taxpayer. My kids go to private school because I would never subject them to government schools. So, basically I could care less whether the teachers are at work or out protesting - but I think this episode should remove all doubt as to who the teachers really care about (hint: it isn't the children...)

now i have to take her kids to the bars with me all day. thanks teachers

www.jsonline.com Watchdog Online Data on Demand

Google the above and see exactly what teachers in our school districts earn... Edgerton...seriously!! This should outrage any "private" sector employee/employer! I believe this to be a fair and equitable plan for all taxpayers...by the way I was raised by union leaders both parents union presidents Dad was a steelworker and Mom was IBEW...Solidarity forever....applies to all citizens not just union workers!!

freebird007
Feb 17, 2011 at 7:28 a.m.
Suggest removal IT'S FOR THE KIDS!!!
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Because it is for the kids every union member struggled with this decision. I don't believe a single person who disagrees with this move to RIP OFF WORKER RIGHTS in WI didn't debate internally about work or demonstrate.
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BTW, will you be thanking and demonstrating any appreciation for the 1000's of teachers that put their kids ahead of their own FAMILIES and attended work. How about the unions that voted against a sick-out?
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Will you use this opportunity to only take a cheap-shot at Edgerton teachers? Do you have the courage to recognize those that feel guilty for attending work today but did so, at least partially, because of the kids?
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Somehow, I doubt it.
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Just like Billnewbie

Carlitosway: What you happen to you if you called into work sick and your boss found out that you are weren't sick but at a demonstration? I'd be willing to bet that you would be reprimanded one way or another including possibly getting fired. Why should it be any different for public employees?

jayem
Feb 17, 2011 at 7:32 a.m.
Suggest removal janesvillean - Actually, this provides an object lesson on how unions have become an entitled group of extremists, thus they need to be brought back down to earth.
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You ignorant, hateful, anti-American...
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How can, when LESS THAN HALF, of the unions workers in this state do something PROVE ANYTHING?
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I would love to see the posters who make the ingorant point thank and congratulate those districts that are open today. Like Milton, where the entitled extremist Union voted AGAINST a sick-out. Janesville, where the union President urged teachers to attend work.
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We won't hear that because it doesn't go with the right-wing, hate public workers agenda.
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Will we (Billnewbie) and others?

The public-sector union tantrums, meant to make lawmakers wobble, have an inadvertent message for the rest of us: Voters can vote all they want. We can elect a cheapskate governor and a Legislature to match. But come the moment, unions will have the last, loudest word.

They’ll have it if takes marches. They’ll have it if it takes what amounts to an illegal strike, with so many Madison teachers calling in sick Wednesday that the district closed schools. If it takes showing up for a we-know-where-your-family-is protest on Walker’s Wauwatosa lawn while he was at work, the unions are sure they can outshout any election result.

This is exactly why Walker is right to limit the unions’ power over government spending. We cannot give in to these thugs.

You forget that it's not just the teachers! Get rid of that bitterness and look at the rest of the bill people! BadgerCare, SeniorCare, Medicare, Medicaid. Fund raiding, more tax cuts for business, ultimate power for the governor with no legislative oversight. Yep, it's all about the teachers...they aren't the only ones affected here, just the most visible and "militant."

Freedom of Speech should not cost someone there JOB... To go against the people as he is doing should warrant IMPEACHMENT... To stand up and do this Is awesome as not one of you would appreciate if it were you being stepped on and stripped of your rights. And gpawcat some unions backed republicans and now they will see what it is going to cost them, IMO, it is about his attack on the rights and how he thinks he can just FORCE his way or no way and the PTOPLE do not deserve to be treated this way as he will affect each and everyone of us as this is only the beginning.
they should not be fired. Open your eyes instead of your mouth, If this moron gets away with this , he will continue to blast the working class and unions with anything he can. Now being an elected official, He should hear what the people are saying with their actions, as he won't allow them to come and voice their opinions in front of the elected officials but then again "IMO this is the republican way Sneaky back stabbing liars out to destroy the working class., STAND UP TO DICTATORSHIP AND DON"T BACK DOWN

the teachers are union they dont have to call in.

When I was in HS, the kids that didn't show up on Senior skip day got punished because teachers knew they weren't sick.

So what happens to the teachers when they don't show up without being "sick"?

I was on the fence about Walker's rushed plan to begin with but now, with more and more teachers walking off their jobs, I am starting to feel less supportive of the teachers and more supportive of Walker's plan. Sorry, but two wrongs never make a right.

Unions killed GM, good for Gov. Walker in realizing this and trying to fix it.

mr. walker act like a teacher and take a day off!!! you have been working too hard. you teachers that didnt show up today i hope u enjoy your 3 months paid vacation u get this summer. i know you are important and struggling like alot of people lol. if you dont like your job quit. you should have enough of the tax payers money to retire!!

You can't expect to have unions and the union rights all these years and then just come in and end the critical components of the unions, especially after you barely enter office. The ones that are really getting hurt here are not the government officials, it's the kids and the other local businesses who are now running short because parents have to miss work to deal with Walker's crap! He needs to end this now and move on to creating good paying jobs in this state. Ticking a massive number of people off right now is not the way to keep his spot at the capitol! Oh, and for the record, I am not union and never have been.

Libertarians: Tea Party betrayed by tiny Republican budget cuts...
Republicans were just trying to fool them again. It looks like we were right." www.lp.org
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·Let parents control all educational funding
·Poor kids end up at worst schools in current system
·Separation of education and State
·End compulsory busing & compulsory education
·Support a market in education to provide more choices
·The state should stay out of education
·Treat private school funding the same as public schools
http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Liberta...

extremists? Teachers? Do their job for half the pay? Are you idiots even thinking about what you say before you type it?

keep calling in. lots of people out here that will take your jobs at half the wage and do a better job. glad you care about those kids

Hey Righton. With the new law in place I hope the objectors to this "NEW LAW" enjoy finding other employment.

detroidieselguy, that's exactly right.

People were screaming for change when we voted Walker in & now he is doing what he promised and changing things & people are still screaming. I for 1 am glad that he is making the changes that he promised. Remember the old addage people "BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT"!!!

Unions never back a Republican. Why should a teacher be forced to join and forced to support the Democrat party. Give the teachers a choice. It is called freedom of association.

Your Fired! Thank you!

If I remeber right didn't the teachers union endorse there new govenor. Funny how things work out. Remember people republicans don't like working people............

Continue to protest! I am backing you not because I think you don't have to survive cuts but because of the way our government is rushing this through!

It may become a law JaSpEr, but the power of the people will be a constant force for Walker to deal with. It will continue! We have seen the changes worldwide that results once this process begins. A recall is already moving along quite well and will take place after the one year time.

This bill is as good as law by Friday.

Quit wasting the taxpayers time and get back to work.

Enough of using the children as pawns already. Any teacher that does not show up for work and does not have a legitement excuse should be fined and fired!

If you don't show up for work you should be fired! Have your protest on a Saturday! Oh that's right...it's the teacher's union.

@NCC1701 - The unions have used those children as pawns since they were old enough to walk.

i am sure there are teachers from beloit or other school districts that are having to close schools would love to have a job !!!

Laughable.

if you people go out and strike,by all rights, you all should loose your jobs. your going against your contract. the contract you all agree'd upon. if i did this at my job i would not have a job.

If you don't stand up for yourselves no one else will.

If nothing else, this provides an object lesson in why unions are necessary.

Good for you, Edgerton teachers. See you in Madison!