For the first time in a very long time, months really, I felt real hunger. It hit me around 10am. I had to drink my lunch fruit smoothie during my hall duty time and then for lunch I went to starbucks for a mocha light frappucino-- which made my headache magically disappear. The rest of the school day was wonderful, especially as students continue to finish some nice projects (see mosaic stones pictured).
This morning, along with dealing with hunger, I learned that the protesters that had stayed the night in the capitol were being forced out, some dragged by their feet, although none were being arrested. The republicans closed the capitol this morning in order to clear it out for their meeting to finally pass the bill that would do away all public employee's unions ability to bargain for anything other that a salary. There was great anxiety in the air, not knowing what would happen next-- some feared violence would finally break out, but it did not. I posted as my facebook profile, "He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need." --Proverbs 21:13. We may not be impoverished, but this bill will affect the working class, not the rich.
I have felt that as this situation has continued that the news media is lying to America about what is really happening here. The protesters are my colleagues, my students, the university kids who have practicums inside the building I work at, my professors; a lot of people I know. They are just regular people, just like me and yet, if you listen to Fox News or Rush Limbaugh, you will hear about the crazy liberals protesting and how Obama's people are organizing the demonstrations. "His people" might be helping out, but I know first hand that the university started the protesting and the union I belong to turned it into a big deal. What is happening in Wisconsin is just a bunch of public employees crying out that what little money they make will be less. Granted, many are angry, but most are just afraid. I suspect that, like me, protesters have little to no money left at the end of the month. I admit that EVERY month, I run out of money. I'm out there protesting because what just passed at the capitol today by state Republicans will be financially painful for ME and my family. Regular Wisconsin folks are looking at losing $300-600 in income per public employee. I have friends who are married to public employees, so they will be hit twice. And that is just the employees, what no one is talking about in the media is the loss to education! A 15 million hit just to the district my children attend-- how will that effect them? The reason I live in Wisconsin is because of my job, it's great benefits and the schools. If both are being hit, why not just go back to California? (Well, because I think I'll still be better off here-- but that's not where I want to go right now).
This is not finished. There will be a court battle and recalls, but the bill is passed and now we move on. The union will do it's best to ask the district to extend our last contract until 2013. As some students and even a few teachers where asking about a strike, I assured them we should not be walking out. To do so would jeopardize negotiations at hand and would be fool-hearty. I am praying for a ratification meeting planned for tomorrow. There is a lot more we can lose.
Here's a teacher from JMM talking to MSNBC:
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