Commentary on issues concerning Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the nation. (and sometimes wine & restaurant recommendations)
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Superintendent of teacher featured in Walker ad says ad is a lie
Scott Walker has a new ad featuring Jeff Knutson, a fourth grade teacher in the Monona Grove school district. Knudson claims:
"When the state budget passed in Madison, a lot of us thought we might lose our jobs. We figured if we didn't get laid off, our class sizes would become unmanageable. But that, didn't happen."
This, according to Knutson's boss, Monona Grove superintendent Craig Gerlach, is simply false. Like nearly all school districts in Wisconsin, Monona Grove has been forced to lay-off teachers and has experienced increases in class sizes:
"The numbers at Monona Grove clearly don't work. We struggled to put together a budget this year, we made significant cuts in terms of programs, laid-off teachers... we closed a building. Next year, quite frankly, will be brutal."
Your headline should have read "School district saves $1,00,000.00 this year thanks to Scott Walker".
And the superintendent said the savings should have been available in the past and it would have saved the district many multi-millions. Watch the video.
Tell me, where is the lie? "When the state budget passed in Madison, a lot of us thought we might lose our jobs. We figured if we didn't get laid off, our class sizes would become unmanageable. But that, didn't happen."
The lie is that teachers, as the Superintendent clearly states, have been laid off. The ad says they have not.
The Walker savings you seem to admire are the result of shifting costs to teachers or to put it another way reducing teacher compensation. Next year what tools will be available to Wisconsin's school districts? Additional cuts in teacher compensation? The model-funding schools by reducing teacher compensation-is simply not sustainable.
Its about time that some administrators come forth and explain that the state needs to support education. Walker has a hate fest going with education-too bad for the future students who will all end up losing out because this administration feels money for big business (that still isn't getting Wisconsin out of the unemployment slump) is much more important! Pretty soon parents will be footing the bill. Open up your eyes Walker lover's-taxes never go down! They either go to support middle class America or big business!
Awesome. We need more admins to stand up and say, "Enough is enough."
ReplyDeleteThis should be sent to Politifact Wisconsin.
ReplyDeleteYour headline should have read "School district saves $1,00,000.00 this year thanks to Scott Walker".
ReplyDeleteAnd the superintendent said the savings should have been available in the past and it would have saved the district many multi-millions.
Watch the video.
Tell me, where is the lie?
"When the state budget passed in Madison, a lot of us thought we might lose our jobs. We figured if we didn't get laid off, our class sizes would become unmanageable. But that, didn't happen."
Where is the lie?
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThe lie is that teachers, as the Superintendent clearly states, have been laid off. The ad says they have not.
The Walker savings you seem to admire are the result of shifting costs to teachers or to put it another way reducing teacher compensation. Next year what tools will be available to Wisconsin's school districts? Additional cuts in teacher compensation? The model-funding schools by reducing teacher compensation-is simply not sustainable.
Its about time that some administrators come forth and explain that the state needs to support education. Walker has a hate fest going with education-too bad for the future students who will all end up losing out because this administration feels money for big business (that still isn't getting Wisconsin out of the unemployment slump) is much more important! Pretty soon parents will be footing the bill. Open up your eyes Walker lover's-taxes never go down! They either go to support middle class America or big business!
ReplyDelete