Posts Tagged: Wisconsin

Today in Wisconsin’s War on Teachers.

Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction is toying around with this statement.   “School districts throughout the state are experiencing difficulties obtaining and retaining licensed personnel. These difficulties can impact children’s educational experience. An emergency rule is needed to create additional flexibility in the teacher licensing process for individuals who are seeking a license for the… Read more »

Wisconsin: “They” Did It!

How long has it been?  How long have I been writing about Wisconsin’s war on the teaching profession and the ridiculous notion that we have a “teacher shortage?”  Rhetorical I know. Well today “they” did it.  “They” opened the door to deprofesssionalization and authorized the use of emergency licenses to address the “shortage” and placed… Read more »

Teacher Shortage as “Shock Doctrine” Part II

Since writing a letter to my teacher education colleagues and then posting it to my blog some things have happened.  I shared it with some legislators.  One remarked, “he’s right but….” Great. I’m right. But that’s not enough to stop the crazy train? That tells me that this issue will only get legs when public school… Read more »

Maintaining the Achievement Gap by Threatening Opt Out.

Let’s make this quick.  At this point it is no mystery that high stakes testing does nothing to reduce the achievement gap (30 + plus years of trying).  In fact, the reality is that the achievement gap is maintained by the constant insistence of using test based accountability.  Yes, accountability is responsible for maintaining the… Read more »

Let’s Change Teacher Licensure to Address the Teacher Shortage: FAILURE!

“Teachers are leaving the classrooms in droves all across the state and enrollment in teacher education programs is plummeting. We have a teacher exodus problem. Our elected officials will use this as evidence of a “teacher shortage” and then lower standards and allow a warm body approach to classroom staffing. There is no “shortage.” Those… Read more »

Wisconsin State Rep. Bob Gannon said what? Part II. Or I see violent thugs that want to do me harm.

  In response to the Orlando mass shooting, one Wisconsin elected official (probably hasn’t passed the civics test yet) proposed legislation for private businesses that restrict or ban people from “concealing and carrying.” This legislation would allow victims of gun violence to sue private property owners that enforce a “gun free zone.” Representative Bob Gannon explained, “There are… Read more »

33 year old Charter Czar in Wisconsin to be paid $93,000.00 from public funds to PRIVATIZE schools.

This morning in MADISON.COM the headline was Gary Bennett, new ‘charter czar,’ pledges collaboration with district, downplays competition. Gary Bennett wants to assure you he’s not out to destroy the Madison School District. The former legislative staffer leads the new Office of Educational Opportunity at the University of Wisconsin System. That makes him the unofficial… Read more »

Mandatory Civics Test: A “good idea” to deny Ethnic Studies?

This is my third post concerning Representative James Edming’s good idea to use the budget process to thwart democracy and require all Wisconsin students to pass a civics test before they can graduate (Using the budget process to pass legislation without debate is NOT on the civics test). At first I thought it was just a… Read more »

Wisconsin’s mandatory Civics test: State mandated racism by omission.

A few months ago I wrote about about opting out of the new “mandatory” civics test that recently became a graduation requirement in Wisconsin.  Remember, this is the test that  Representative James “Jimmy Boy” Edming thought was “a good idea.”  I also went on Capital City Sunday with Representative Terese Berceau to talk about the problems associated… Read more »

Wisconsin State Rep. Bob Gannon said what?

In response to a shopping mall shooting, one Wisconsin elected official (probably hasn’t passed the civics test yet) proposed that officials pass a Conceal and Carry bill that “would allow students, faculty and visitors with conceal carry permits to have guns at UW-System schools.” “Wisconsin does not have a death penalty law, but with significant… Read more »