This weekend, just like every other weekend this year, I have been busy working on assignments for a couple of courses I’m taking. When I finished today, I sat down and watched CNN and HLN news. I couldn’t help but notice two news posts that seemed like a strange juxtaposition to be next to each other. One showcased Oscar opulence and the other a scene from the state house at Madison, Wisconsin where protesters are camped out and being asked to leave. http://www.wkow.com/global/category.asp?c=123753
Tonight belongs to Oscar but I, for one, could care less who or what gets an Oscar. Watching the news where Wolfgang Puck showed off little Oscar chocolates coated with 24K gold just kind of repulsed me as I thought about what is happening in Wisconsin. The heat and pressure is really being put on the teachers. The next move is layoff notices which are now being sent out to teachers by many school boards across the state. http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_4f6825c2-4160-11e0-afd8-001cc4c002e0.html
Of course we all know that Governor Walker is threatening to layoff state employees as well. While this is being played out in Wisconsin, Hollywood is busy with all the Oscar parties and events. The Oscar swag bag could pay for a teacher, benefits and all. http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/2011/02/27/oscars-2011-even-the-losers-get-75000-plus-in-swag-bag/
It is kind of scary the tale of these two cities. One full of opulence and one filled with normal people doing normal jobs just asking for the right to negotiate. It’s even scarier when a simple gift bag for the 1600 or so Oscar elite is worth more than what most teachers received in a year’s salary and benefits. Winners’ swag bags are worth twice as much. Imagine a gift worth $150,000! It’s hard to fathom how the rich, powerful and famous live. I’m just a teacher. I drive a 2001 Ford Taurus and I live a simple life but now the government has put a target on my back because I’m paid too well. I have to “share” the sacrifice. I don’t have a problem with sharing a sacrifice as long as everyone has to give their fair share. What I want to know is what sacrifices are the wealthy facing? What will they be missing in their opulent lifestyles? Will the Koch brothers have a few less billion to throw around? Will the Hollywood elite have to give up a few thousand from their swag bag?
Educating our children should be the top priority in our country. Our children are our most precious resource. The best thing you can give your child is a good education from dedicated professionals. I know what I put into my teaching and I see my colleagues doing the same. I’m sure Wisconsin teachers are dedicated as well. There may be a few bad apples as every profession has those people that might be considered “lazy”. However, the truth is teaching is a profession that has come a long way. Teachers used to be able to teach with an 8th grade education. Those days are long gone as most teachers have earned the equivalent of their Masters and beyond. Teachers want to be paid for being the professionals they have become. Teachers have had a lot of pressure to keep up with the times. For years teachers have been the first to learn about the new technologies when they come out and they have worked hard to get that technology installed in school districts. There is much more to the profession of teaching today than has been in the past. Teachers have to learn new strategies for teaching the 21st century student who has been raised with an appetite for TV, video games and computer gadgets. Teachers attend conferences, take more college courses and get involved in professional development to improve their teaching ability. This effort is on going and lasts for the lifetime of the teacher. Many people have no idea what is really going on in schools today. They hear something about a test score and think they know the whole story. Much of what a teacher does on any given day could never show up on a test. I’ve listened to children tell me how their parent died and why their sad to letting me know they’re hungry, to even showing me their excitement at learning something new in my class. These are precious moments. Sometimes I’m teaching and sometimes I’m listening and sometimes I’m just someone showing a young soul that I care about them. You may see me as someone that needs to share a sacrifice. I see myself as someone that puts her hand out every day and lifts up children that need a helping hand!