In Madison, a protesting teacher brings Gov. Scott Walker’s child into the debate:
Meredith Shiner reports:
Michael Mulvey, a high school algebra teacher in Wauwatosa — the town Walker represented for a decade in the Legislature here — lapped the circular balcony over the main floor with a sign that read, “Scott, I taught your son algebra. My son just turned 5. Does he deserve a good education?”
UPDATE: More from NPR:
But before the sun set, most Walker supporters went home. And union forces again owned the streets, marching around the Capitol building. On the curb, teacher Leah Gustafson held a sign saying, “Scott, your son is in my class. I teach him, I protect him, I inspire him.”
Gustafson said she teaches Walker’s son in a school outside Milwaukee. Like much of organized labor, she also said she accepts the need for union workers to pay more for their pensions and health care.
“Absolutely, I get that,” she said. “I understand that, and I am more than willing to do that. But it’s the bargaining rights that really scare me. We have to obtain and retain teachers for the future, or our educational system is going to crumble.”
This won't end well.
Feel sorry for the 5 year old, life is tough when your dad is a cement head.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"It's a nice education your son had there. It'd be too bad if something were to happen to it"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe thrust of that sign seems to be an implied threat: If we teachers don't get the benefits and bargaining rights we expect, then we'll stop teaching the kids as well as we might otherwise.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDo these people have NO shame? Do they NOT realize that the rest of us 'normal', hard working, PRIVATE sector employees are watching their every move and pronouncements?
I wish I HAD the deal these Bozo's have.
They're JUST a bunch of spoiled entitlement babies.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTo paraphrase Mike Ditka, this guy is obviously "one of the pissants of life."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI am interested to hear the linkage between a 5 year old's education and a 40 year old's health insurance and pension out of pocket contributions.
If this chronically impaired "educator" can make a lucid argument as to their linkage, I say accede to the hack sector's demands.
Until then get back to work.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI didn't realize that asking teachers to bring their contributions to their healthcare and retirement plans constituted "bad education."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat does this even mean? His son is doomed to a bad education because the teachers have to pay 12% more for their health insurance?
His son is only doomed to a bad education if he sends him to public schools.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat sign makes no sense. Gov. Walker isn't trying to take away education from this teacher's 5 year old.
And since this teacher is so concerned, what about students who have had class cancelled because his fellow educators didn't show up for work? Do they not deserve a good education?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat should say "bring their contributions to their healthcare and retirement plans more into line with the national average."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow's that hope and change working out for ya?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell, thank G_d he didn't teach him Logic.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf these type of tactics don't turn the stomach of even the most non-political citizen, this country has lost all hope.
I would love to see accurate polling, because I honestly think teachers nationwide have really smeared themselves. there's no telling how many bond initiatives nationwide will be voted down because of these disgusting storm trooper tactics.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI don't seem to recall that Gov. Walker said he wanted to fire teachers, but that those teachers and all unionized employees should pay more for their own benefits. I thought math was supposed to teach people to think logically, so I don't know how this algebra teacher made a logical leap from having to pay for his own benefits to denying his son the right to an education (besides, couldn't he do that himself?).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMr. Mulvey makes a strong point with his non sequitur, but probably not the one he intended.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIs this teacher suggesting that there is a correlation between his right to collective bargaining and the quality of education teachers can provide? I don't believe there are any statistics to prove that correlation exists. As an aside, a well educated, respectful teacher ought to know that the Governor of a state is addressed as Governor, not by his first name.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseQuick, somebody get a magic marker, and make a sign that says, "Your 5 year old would be in school if his slacker father and his friends hadn't closed the schools by pretending to be sick!" or "Here's a quadratic equation for you: Union^2+DNC+taxes= Y?"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes his son does deserve a good education as does every child in the state. So the GOP should move forward IMMEDIATELY with a state wide voucher program to break the chokehold of the Teachers Union.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAlso, this feels like a veiled threat against his kids. "Your son is safe...for now."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI had a hard time posting this because of that anti-spam math question. My teacher is on strike.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse