Wisconsin, like many other states in America, is in a lot of debt. This means that they spend more money than they have. Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, proposed a new budget, or plan, to make up for this excess spending last week.

Gov. Walker wants the state to cut costs in order to save money. His plan for cutting costs, however, has not been well received.

He plan is to eliminate a majority of the collective bargaining rights of public employees. Collective Bargaining is a process that allows employers and worker unions (groups that workers join to protect their rights) to reach agreements about working conditions such as wages, hours, and health and safety, among others.

President Obama spoke on the matter and said the plan seems like an “assault on unions.” Unions are a very important part of our work structure in the United States and make sure that individuals are protected and treated fairly.

How does this affect you? Teachers at public schools are state employees and will be included in this elimination of rights! Teachers will lose their say in their own work life and conditions will most likely suffer.

The changes would also limit pay increases, allow districts to fire teachers with more than three days of unexcused absences and set longer school days and years.

In response to the proposal, about 100 Stoughton High School students walked out of class on February 15th. Theron Luhn, a junior who helped organize the protest said:

“Let’s show Gov. Walker that we care about learning, and the teachers are worth every cent that we pay to them.”

The students walked across the street to the parking lot of Stoughton United Methodist Church, where they signed a petition and listened to protest leaders give speeches.

This was the most dramatic of protests by students but it wasn’t the only demonstration. About 10 students at Sun Prairie High School held a “walk-in” to show their support for teachers. Zack Henderson explained that as faculty came walking in the doors the students welcomed and cheered for them to show their appreciation.

What do you think might happen if teachers lose the ability to negotiate their working conditions?

How do you feel about student involvement in the Collective Bargaining protests?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Kristen

New Moon Intern

Meet Leta Andrews, a female basketball coach who has won more games than any high-school coach in the country. In her 49-year career, she has won 1,346 games, and beat the national record this December.

She is described as having a “tough love” attitude and as “a coach, not anyone’s buddy.”

Leta demands a lot of her players – she makes her team run sprints at halftime when they aren’t playing well. If a player misses a free throw in a game, she has “to shoot 25 shots when the team returns home, even if it is late at night.” She even took away her player’s cell phones before the playoff opener to reduce distraction.

One of Leta’s players says, “She doesn’t let you slack off. Sometimes she makes us cry, but we know it’s for the good.”

Her tough love attitude is explained by the influence her father had on her life. She grew up on a farm where she says, “Daddy wanted everything done just right. If I was on the tractor, I had to plow so straight. If I varied at all, I’d have probably got a whipping.”

Apparently her father’s expectations for basketball were the same as for farming.

When I was reading about Leta I couldn’t help but think, if she were a man, would her behavior seem so demanding? Would her push for perfection and excellence be criticized?

If she coached male players, would they be quoted as saying they cried because of her intensity?

Is it possible for a woman to be competitive without a male influence?

I, for one, have played on sports teams my entire life, usually with male coaches. I’ve been pushed to sprint at halftime, or for arriving to practice late. And coaches have certainly increased the workouts after losing a game.

I am not saying that these are acceptable or necessary “punishments.” Sports have a ton of other benefits that don’t come from winning and the competitiveness can indeed be harmful.

What do you think of the pressures of sports and if winning really should be the goal at all costs? What makes Leta Andrews any different from the numbers of other demanding coaches in this country?

What are your thoughts on the questions I posed throughout this article? How do you think her gender affects her “tough love” portrayal?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Kristen

New Moon Intern

Last week, the Iowa House of Representatives voted on an amendment, a change to their constitution, to make same-sex marriage illegal again. This would overturn the Supreme Court decision in 2009 that made gay marriage legal in Iowa. There was a hearing, or a public meeting, ab out this proposal.

Zach Wahls entered the public eye on this day. He is a nineteen-year-old engineeringstudent at the University of Iowa. He stood up at this hearing before the Iowa House of Representatives and defended gay marriage. He spoke about how, even though he was raised by two women, he is a normal, thriving, healthy human being!

To show how well-adjusted he is, Zach explained that he scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT, a college entrance exam, is an Eagle Scout and owns and operates his own small business.

Oftentimes it is assumed that gay parents will not raise children as well as other couples, or not well at all. Zach Wahls stood up to provide an example for the state of Iowa and this country that this is simply not the case.

In his last thoughts he explained that he had never had anyone realize, without his telling them, that he was raised by a gay couple. He went on to ask the congress and audience if they knew why.

He said it was “because the sexual orientation of my parents has had zero impact on the content of my character.”

You can see Zach speak to the House of Representatives on YouTube here…it’s definitely worth watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSQQK2Vuf9Q&feature=player_embedded

Zach is a great example of a straight ally to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trangender) marriage movement. He is also a great example of someone who took his opinions and thoughts to the government and made his voice heard! His speech has taken the internet by storm!

It is predicted that this amendment will not be made into law in Iowa.

Zach is only nineteen years old – one year younger than me, only a few years older than some of you. You can create change and your opinions and thoughts matter!

What do you think about how Zach stood up for what he believed in? What would you do to make your voice heard?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Kristen

New Moon Intern

Do you consider yourself a “girlie girl”?  Late last month, journalist Peggy Orenstein published a new book called “Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture.”

I suppose I should define exactly what I mean when I talk about this girlie-girl culture! If you think of a “girlie-girl,” what comes to mind? A princess outfit, some makeup, shades of pink, shopping in the mall? It is important that we remember that none of these are negative qualities, though! They do have the potential, however, to influence girls as they grow up.

There is a lot of emphasis on appearance and what girls look like in this culture. There is much more to women and girls, however, than what they look like, which we all know! You are all beautiful but also, and perhaps more importantly, talented and smart and can do anything you want to do with confidence and hard work! Orenstein’s goal was to write about what all of these “girlie-girl” interests could mean for young girls’ identities and their futures.

Her inspiration for the book was her own beautiful and talented daughter, Daisy. When Daisy was 3 years old, she loved trains. Peggy was excited about her daughter’s chosen interest – she thought that maybe it would be easier if she could avoid “girlie-girl” culture all together. Once Daisy got to school, however, all it took was one boy who yelled “girls don’t like trains!” across the playground to make Daisy beg her mother for a princess outfit.

Peggy Orenstein was unsure about how this would impact her daughter. So, in her new book, she looks for the answers. She looked at the images and ideas girls were absorbing about “who they should be, what they should buy, and what made them girls?”

I bought this book on my e-reader a few hours ago and I plan to start reading it tonight. I’ll write back in a couple of weeks with a more detailed description!

What do you think about the effect of “girlie-girl” culture on young women today?  Is it okay to be a “girlie-girl” as long as that’s who you want to be – not who you feel you have to be?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Kristen

New Moon Intern

In December of 2010 the people of Tunisia, the northern-most country of Africa, took a stand. The Tunisian people were upset by their President and how their government as a whole had been ignoring very important national problems.

For nearly a month, people were protesting violently in the streets against the government. People died in the fight, but they succeeded in getting President Ben Ali to flee the country.

On January 15^th he resigned.

The uprisings, where people act out against their government, in Tunisia inspired similar actions throughout the Arab world and similar protests are occurring this very minute in Egypt!

About a week ago, Egyptian activists declared a “day of revolution against torture, corruption [government dishonesty], poverty and unemployment.” Thousands of Egyptians are protesting across the country against their government and President Hosni Mubarak. He has been ruling for 30 years as more of a dictator, someone who has, and abuses his, total control and power over a country and its people.

Violent demonstrations have occurred every day since January 25^th where protestors were kept at bay by water canons, rubber bullets and tear gas. Only time will tell how and when they will end.

There is something unusual occurring in these protests, however. Women are joining the fight alongside men! This is highly unusual for Egyptian society. The country has very high rates of harassment and it is common practice for women to be touched and harassed in the streets.

Egyptian blogger Dalia Ziada reports that diverse crowds of women can be seen in the streets marching and chanting making sure that their voices are heard in the political movement. Women range from university students to mothers with their children. Before the government shut down cell phone and Internet access in Cairo, Ziada told Newsweek the “men and women are standing side-by-side in calling for their rights. All you have is an idea.”

Harassment has not been at its usual high during the demonstrations. It has been said that this can be explained by the “purity” of the movement. The people are all coming together as Egyptians, regardless of gender, to reclaim their nation.

What do you think a government should do for its people?

Do you think the Egyptian women are brave for joining the fight? What do you think it is like for them to be so empowered by protesting?

Have you ever protested anything, or fought for something you believe in?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Kristen

New Moon Intern