Will Anyone Want to Teach in Wisconsin?
Walker's policies could damage public education for the next generation
Three-fourths of the 3,800 educators surveyed said morale has gotten worse since February, when Gov. Scott Walker introduced a bill that gutted public employees' bargaining rights and required them to pay more into their health care and pension benefits.
In contrast, a mere 5.6% of surveyed teachers, counselors, library media specialists and support staff said that morale has improved. That's in stark contrast to the governor's assertion that his "tools" are "working."
The survey polled educators in the metro Milwaukee area, excluding Milwaukee Public Schools teachers and staff.
After Walker's collective bargaining bill was passed by the Republican-led Legislature, Walker and lawmakers handed public schools $1.6 billion in cuts, thanks to reduced funding and strict property tax caps that limit the amount of local revenue school districts can generate.
According to the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI), 97% of the state's 424 school districts will receive less school aid for the 2011-2012 school year than they did in the previous year. The median decrease was 9.98%.
Teaching 'On the Brink of Some Very Serious Trouble
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WEAC's survey turned up widespread discontent among education professionals:
- 78% said that schools were not better off this year
- 76% said that their district had fewer resources this year to meet the needs of all children as individuals
- 72% said they would not encourage potential teachers to pursue a career in education
- 57% said they considered leaving the profession in the past year
- 55% are concerned or very concerned about their job security
- 77% say they are more stressed because of their job insecurity
Taken together, Walker's education policies are damaging the education profession now and in the coming years, said Ted Kraig, UniServ Director of Council No. 10 of WEAC.
"The teaching profession is on the brink of some very serious trouble," Kraig said.
He said Wisconsin is going in the opposite direction of countries with high-quality education systems, where teaching is a desirable profession that attracts top-notch college students.
"We're not going to be drawing from the top 10% of students when this is an incredibly put-upon, undesirable profession, given everything that Walker is doing to it," Kraig said.
He said that lowered morale, along with reduced resources and the undesirability of teaching as a career, will damage Wisconsin's public education system in the long run.
"Research shows that inside the walls of the school, the most important factor is the quality of the teacher," Kraig said. "If teachers are overwhelmingly saying, 'This is not sustainable, this makes me really question whether I want to be in this profession, I wouldn't recommend that anybody else get into it,' we need to take that seriously."
DPI spokesman Patrick Gasper said state Superintendent Tony Evers had opposed Walker's education policies and budget.
"It's been a very difficult year for educators in general," Gasper said. "While many of them feel or have felt that they're sort of under attack, they were the ones who still reported to school on Sept. 1 and were there for the students and are doing standout jobs in providing education to our children."
He said Walker's reforms could discourage a new generation from becoming public school teachers.
"But teaching is an incredibly rewarding profession," Gasper said. "We must continue to invest in education. We have to keep trying to do things to attract the best and brightest to become teachers. That's what we need in order for our children to succeed."
Fewer Teachers, Bigger Class Sizes
WEAC's study is the second survey demonstrating the impact of Walker's collective bargaining "tools" and $1.6 billion funding cut on the state's public schools.
Last month, the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA) survey, analyzed by the state DPI, found that public schools are employing 3,368 fewer educators and staff this year, compared to the 2010-2011 school year employment levels. That translates to 1,655 fewer teachers, 172 fewer administrators, 765 fewer aides and 776 fewer support staff. About 83% of school districts responded to WASDA's survey, but it correlates with 4,000 public school jobs lost statewide this year, as estimated by the state Department of Workforce Development.
Nine out of 10 students attend a district with a net loss of staffing in one of four areas surveyed and 59% of districts said they have increased class sizes for some grade levels.
Two-thirds of responding districts said that they will make the same or deeper cuts in the next school year, since federal stimulus funding will have run out, big savings from Walker's "tools" will have been exhausted and high levels of retirements have already been taken.
Also on the horizon is a potential cut of federal funds for public education in the next year, due to the inability of the congressional "super committee" to strike a deal in November.
"We haven't heard anything specific or the extent or amount of the cuts," said DPI's Gasper. "That's sort of still in play."
WASDA Executive Director Miles Turner said Walker's education policy is part of a long-term trend of decreased funding for public education, which began in the Tommy Thompson administration with revenue caps and the qualified economic offer (QEO) for teachers. As a result, districts have resorted to cutting employees and course offerings and increasing class sizes.
"I sometimes wonder if the citizens of Wisconsin understand what's happening to their public education system," Turner said. "That's not just current [policies]. It's also historical and future [policies]."
Walker's office did not respond to the Shepherd's request for comment on this article. But the governor has claimed that his "tools" haven't decreased the quality of public education and have reduced statewide property tax levies for schools by 1%.
But WASDA's Turner said that the goal of public education policy shouldn't be property tax relief. He said that state policy-makers need to take a look at all sources of revenue for education funding, including potentially raising the sales tax 1%, to bring it up to the national average and raise $1 billion for schools.
"Why are we looking at property tax relief at the expense of local public schools when there might be better sources of revenue to fund schools and save our programs and serve our children?" Turner said.
Don't worry -- he'll be out of office soon enough. By the way, teachers don't work for politicians - they work for the people of this state and the children of this state. If Walker's type of thinking (and, apparently, yours) continues to be the guiding force behind education in WI, we'll rank right down there with Mississippi and Arkansas in quality. I suppose Walker (and many of his poorly informed minions) don't value education -- he doesn't have one.
He does value education. He's only cut out the immoral indulgences of teachers that came with collective bargaining abusese.
Teachers need to show their loyalty and allegence to Scott Walker. They should have backing him financially.
BTW - Arkansas and Missisiippi might not measure up to Wisconsin but they still manage to educated their citizens. Not everyone there is an illiterate sharecropper.
Classic. Mr. Anonymous, crying about the education system then comes up with these gems:
"He does value education. He's only cut out the immoral indulgences [sic] of teachers that came with collective bargaining abusese [sic].
Teachers need to show their loyalty and allegence to Scott Walker. They should have backing him financially.
BTW - Arkansas and Missisiippi [sic] might not measure up to Wisconsin but they still manage to educated [sic] their citizens. Not everyone there is an illiterate sharecropper"
Classic, you can't spell and you rail against teachers, were you one of those that never paid attention during home schooling? Can't wait to read your next post.
anomy mous: How much is the simple mind of scott walker paying you to distort his hatefull program?
Anonymous.... haaaaaaaaaaaaaa. You coward... You troll.
I don't agree that public teachers work for Scott Walker, or should; the majority ruthlessly work for the unions, but should be working for the public. Otherwise we're on the same page.
There is an endless array of interested teaching professionals that are only too willing to work both in Milwaukee and in the surrounding areas of Wisconsin.
They, and I, understand that we’ll still be earning great wages and benefits, and we’re very proud to accept what is offered. So many of us believe that the unions - along with most of its members - are greedy and unthankful people. There are so many good teachers and fewer that are great, but the majority being mediocre at best - if even that.
Wisconsin, but especially Milwaukee, has received outstanding funds for education.. for years, and for years and years the students have tested very low. To top that many of the faculty even requisition bogus reimbursements - that cost the school districts thousands upon thousands of dollars every year - in falsifying their activity reports.
It seems that an outrageous self-entitled arrogance has been the whim of all too many; too many that believe and act as if they’re above other people and professions. It used to be that school teachers, police, and fire were public service jobs; that when aspiring to take these fields on it was in the mindset, and expectation, to sincerely be of help to others. Now it seems to be nothing resembling that at all. Now it seems the worthless and lazy teachers want the most no matter, and they want their jobs protected, and I mean come on.. who wouldn’t when they know they’d be fired without it.
Academically speaking.. teaching is not a hard job, and anyone - even with an average IQ and ability to be trained - can be trained to properly teach; in reality a degree would not even be needed; except for specialized studies. However, where so many lose sight is that any profession, or job, has expectations for being the very best one can be. This is where great, good, and mediocre tend to differ; where teachers are either not willing, or capable, of giving the best a student/student body deserves.
Teachers are already rewarded with the standard educational holidays and summers off; maybe by default but still nonetheless. Teachers should be rewarded with earnings above a remedial income, but not out of line as it has been, and not because of a degree alone, or because the unions, and college institutions, say so. (Just because colleges market potential earnings to justify their tuition does not justify real earnings; in fact what colleges do should be illegal, because they should not be dictating the worth of a profession to the market place through the cost of their tuition.) In my opinion having a degree is only essential now because of the corrupt nature our market place has become, but don’t mistake that colleges, and unions, have a hand in this, and that you’re not entitled to live like a king because of it.
Lastly tax-payers should never be expected to pay outrageous earnings and benefits, and then send their kids off to school for a mediocre education; to only then protect the teachers’ jobs. Tax-payers have their own expenses just the same, and they’re not going to pay theirs and ours both; nor should they. I’m disgusted with both the Democratic State Senators that ran off like the flea bags they are and with the teachers that skipped classes to protest; resulting, too, in bogus sick excuses that we should also be holding doctors accountable for as well. For every teacher that took off to protest there are five more willing to take their place, so please by all means.. quit, and bounce around from state to state until there is no state left that will tolerate this absurdity.
* I find it very interesting, too, that the majority of teachers that write online to complain about Walker don’t even know proper grammar; isn’t that something!
Sandman - it's polls. I have a suggestion, you show up at the poles and we'll show up at the polls. Why am I not surpise this comment came from a Walker supporter.
To you Sandman and others with the same twisted sense of reality....I invite you ANY time into my classroom. You wouldn't last for a week! And oh, by the way.....if it is sooooo much easier than private work, why didn't YOU go into teaching?! Look pass your nose at the big picture! It's about human rights, the right to assemble. I'm staying right here in Wisconsin (with our without Scott Walker) to help better our children's future. Those of you that don't care for worker's rights and the democratic process of recalls can move...Iraq and North Korea would love to have your simple mind.
@doctoratedegree... While I can appreciate those who do not care for Gov. Walker.... Recalling a person simply because you do not like the decisions in Madison can be likened to having your student removed from your classroom because you do not like him/her. Governor Walker has not broken any laws, wait until the next election to voice your concerns and vote for someone else. What does the recall teach our children.... If you don't like the outcome of a democratic process, then have a tantrum until it is resolved. Surely you cannot stand for that. btw.... I am neither a Democrat, nor a Republican, I am simply an American. Time is better spent on promoting positive things than hatred of one person. Wouldn't you agree?