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