This story was about the fact there were consequences for teachers. I would imagine the district made this public to let the taxpayers know the teachers did not get a "pass". It does NOT say the teacher's are upset, appealing, or crying about that fact. As grown ups, they knew their employer attendance policy and were prepared to accept the consequences of their actions. I support teacher's right to collective bargain and to protest. Voices needed to be heard. But I have always told my kids that you cannot choose the rules or laws you like and break the laws or rules you don't like. There are consequences. The teachers did what they felt was needed. The district did too.

Odd heritage, Honorfirst, since the Republican party wasn't founded until 1834. It descended from the Whig party which advocated economic protectionism (tariffs) over free trade (NAFTA and every other trade agreement struck by your party). Sounds like an identity crisis to me. It resembles the GOP evolution into the Constitutional Tea Party...
pass laws that explicitly violate the constitutional lesgislative process...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/30...
advocate libertarian conservatism and hand out authoritarian conservatism....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/default.cdnx/id...
When your own elected officials condone lying in order to "illustrate a point"... How do know to what you identify?
http://www.businessinsider.com/jon-kyl-c...

The GOP legislature teaches our children that it's OK to lie so long as you are simply "illustrating a point". My daughter attended a few rallies with me and was "amazed by how much work" it takes to defend liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. I'm private-sector, non-union, BTW. My daughter learned a valuable lesson that politicians do not always tell the truth. She learned that "illustrating a point" is irrelevant, if not outright disinformation. I've never been more proud of her.
http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/...

*Not only was protesting necessary in Madison, but we were able to teach our children what real democracy looks like. *

Yes you sure were...it looks like mob rule and thug intimidation...and you also showed kids that it doesn't work!

Koch_Bros: You have not witnessed any crankiness from me as of yet, nor are you likely to see it from me. I have strong opinions, but do not get angry over other peoples opinions. I truely enjoy the debating and try, although difficult as it is, to see the oppossing viewpoint(s).
I am also pround to say that I come from a very long line of Conservative Republican's that have served in the military since the Revolutionary War and I say that with my head held high and very much focused on what I consider to be fair. You may not agree with my assestment of fair, and I may not agree with yours, but my friend...that is the joy of living in America. I freely admit that I may take honor and duty much more serious than some others, but what the heck...

Honorfirst, you discredit your line of discussion by singing the praises of labor practices in developing, third world, and/or communist countries. If you represent the authoritarian conservatism akin to plutocracy that is emerging from the right and already taken hold in China, I am proud to stand in opposition to you.
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This is the most optimistic story I was able to find regarding labor in China. Do you think the Chinese laborers employed by this selfless company are 'just happy to have a job' at a US equivalent of $160 per month... after a 40% raise??? http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/con...
Another about the pure shame of it:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-hinder...
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Speaking of entitlements... More tax breaks for corporations? GE getting paid billions to create jobs abroad and eliminate jobs at home not enough 'incentive'? Criers of corporate need beat their drums about the 35% tax bracket. I have yet to see one record for a public corporation that indicated they ever paid 35%. In 2007, 2/3 of WI corporations paid no taxes. By all means, though, they are 'entitled' to more tax cuts and subsidies under Ryan's gift. But, yes, by all means, let's defund the IRS, though for every dollar the IRS spends, it brings in $8 of revenue. And while we're at it, defund every other entitlement that does not directly feed the corporate coffers. And, yes, let's give corporations more tax payer dollars to do business abroad. When Americans work for Chinese wages without a single benefit, will the corporations quit demanding their entitlements? Since no one will be buying anything anymore for lack of income, the new capitalist model will be one entirely of corporate welfare. But, by all means, end all entitlements and regulations for the greedy little laborers.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/...
http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/13/news/com...
http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/01/ge-exxo...
http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/12/news/eco...
http://www.revenue.wi.gov/ra/CorpIncFran...
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Ryan's proposal of 'shared sacrifice' slashes entitlement programs that will translate to more money out of 90% of American pockets at a time when wages are also being slashed (mine is down 35% in two years)... Then it offers trillions in tax cuts to the wealthy on top of the Bush era tax cuts. Poor billionaires... Maybe if we all work for free, they can turn the around. Phhtt.
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-...
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blo...

Wait...they didn't get paid when they didn't show up?? What an outrage!!Hopefully parents teach their kids better. In the REAL world, people would be disciplined for acting like three year olds.

And poobah, You said "You people griping about one or two days make me sick" Well, I may make you sick but a lie is a lie.

Okay then, is the message we want our kids to learn that if one side lie then it's okay to lie altogether? You can go side to side here and neither sides lies are right. THAT"S THE MESSAGE THE KIDS SHOULD BE GETTING!

I am positive it is being paid out of the JEA dues. It was discussed and approved. If you don't believe me just watch.

unclesmoothie said, "Nowhere in my post did I ever claim the teachers are not dedicated."
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And nowhere in my post did I say you did. Just who isn't reading what?

Nowhere in my post did I ever claim the teachers are not dedicated. My brother and sister are both teachers and spend considerable sums out of their own pockets. They give countless hours of their own time unpaid. I support them 100%. Explain to me why it is okay to lie. That is what my post stated. You go off into some rant about hiding the truth from the children. Do you ever even read what you post or are you so caught up in a anti-republican frenzy that you just don't care? I get a real kick out of the people who think that any bad thing against "their side" is is a vote against them.

unclesmoothie, think about the message that Walker is sending to the kids. He's telling the kids that teachers don't deserve the rights they have been given by statute, he's telling the kids that their teachers make too much money and have too many benefits paid for by taxpayers. Fortunately, kids are often more aware than their parents and they get it. They see the dedication of their teachers -- day after day and year after year. You people griping about one or two days in what, a century, make me sick. I'm sure most kids miss more days of school than that in a typical year due to illness, Mom and Dad taking them on vacation or whatever. It was a far greater lesson for the kids to witness democracy in action and you should be thankful they had the opportunity. Or are you ashamed that your kids may catch their moms and dads teacher-bashing and doing the exact opposite that you have taught them -- respect? I guess maybe you rather have all the TV's and radios turned off while your kids are around, limit their access to the news, so you can go on with the bashing while keeping your kids in sweet oblivion.

I support the teachers and their plight to a certain extent. But when it come to LYING and presenting PHONY medical excuses in order to receive pay I am truly appalled. What message are you sending to the children you are supposed to be preparing for life? That it is okay to present falsehoods and prevarications in order to get what you want? I support everyone's right to assemble and protest ANY cause they believe in. However i do not support the lying that is going along with it. Is a day or two of pay to much of an expense to give to stand up for your cause? Think about the message this sends to the kids.

I do not understand the continual teacher bashing that goes on. I want to thank the teachers for what they do. I do not think people realize that our schools are going to suffer with all the teacher cuts and monetary cuts we are going to see in the Wisconsin schools. Who do you think is going to solve world problems down the road.....it isn't going to be under-educated people who sit around complaining all the time. The "green-eyed monster" gets in the way of common sense.
Just want the teachers to know there are people who appreciate them!!!

Koch_Bros: Your posts are priceless.

Good one Devil.

Remember when teachers, public employees, Planned Parenthood, NPR and PBS crashed the stock market, wiped out half of our 401Ks, took trillions in TARP money, spilled oil in the Gulf of Mexico, gave themselves billions in bonuses, and paid no taxes?
Yeah, me neither.

I can't believe the things people pass off on here as fact.
Are you sure that JEA members didn't donate money? Where is your source that it came from dues? Perhaps even non-JEA members donated?

As for the "ruined my kid's education" by 6% of the staff being gone on Thursday, and missing one day on Friday - that's laughable. Maybe you should be going after the parents whose children have missed more than 20 days of school each year.

Thank you to teachers and all school employees. Stay strong. I appreciate how you have all taken care of our children. You have supported me for years and I am here to support you all.

Wow Honor, kind of sensitive, aren't you?

Honorfirst, I am not the spokesman for newglasses. You said, "I have been to several and saw no such behavior. Exactly where is your source of information coming from? A union meeting or maybe the Cap Times, union brothers, Berkley, NPR?"
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You asked for a source, I gave it to you. Your own precious FOX News. And if you've been to several places and saw no such behavior, you better change your tour guide!

Poobah: being the spokesperson for newglasses: Do you really think China is the only place where suicide is occurring? I am more concerned about suicide that is happening in our schools as a result of bullying.
In all walks of life, be it at the workplace, school or homes, there are suicides. Some people are not able to deal with the stress placed upon them and this is their escape from the pressure. The suicides in China does not change the argument of entitlement nor does it lessen the fact that other countries welcome the work of U S companies at a much lower rate of pay and in several instances the quality surpasses ours.
The point I was making is the entitlement mentality and greed of the U S worker.
Phoenixkid: Your unsolicited opinion means nothing to me. If that is the extent of your in-depth commentary...go back to your comic books.

HonorFirst is a bad name for you.
Thanks Poobah.

Honorfirst, here is an article backing up what newglasses has been talking about regarding Chinese labor atrocities. And I have this real funny feeling you are going to just love the source - FOX NEWS!
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http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/02/1...
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While you are at it, all of my fellow independent thinkers, here are two fantastic articles for your reading pleasure.
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http://www.vanityfair.com/society/featur...
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http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arch...

newglasses: Before making such ridiculous comments, maybe you should go to China, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Spain, Germany, Russia, etc., to see for yourself their work behavior. I have been to several and saw no such behavior. Exactly where is your source of information coming from? A union meeting or maybe the Cap Times, union brothers, Berkley, NPR?
The point is that American workers feel entitled to so many benefits that were not the initial goal of organized labor, but rather from their greed and laziness. They don't want to risk their money on starting a business, they just want a portion of something where others have taken the risk. In other countries (Yes my friend, there are other countries we send work other than China), they want the work and appreciate the opportunity to provide for their families.
Do everyone a favor and articulate, do a little research before you make goofy comments. It doesn't make you look well informed.

Koch_Bros: As always your posts border on pathetic to slightly comical. Truth of the matter is if you could hold your head still so it stops tilting to the far left and attempt to focus: We the majority of the citizens that are chastising your poor unions have no problem with people defending their rights (whether perceived or real) but they need to follow the rules. Your analogy is much like the illegal folks crossing into our country and then wanting to claim the same rights we have. Sorry, no deal. You must earn what you get, entitlements are over.
Once allowed to bend the rules to suit your purposes, where does it stop? Not a good question for you? Let me help you out my left-leaning misguided friend; to stop the problem, you stop the source of the problem, which in this case it would be the treachery by the teachers and the union as a whole to manipulate public support for what they consider to be theirs.
As far as receiving a tri-cornered patriot hat from our beloved Governor, I would wear it proudly if you would wear the label of the utopian socialist that sole purpose in life is to take away from the people that have worked hard to achieve what they have, so you might enjoy the same benefits as they without working for it yourself. Your passive-aggressive, condescending comments barely hide your contempt for people that have made their own way in life, relying on their education, hard work and/or talents to achieve whatever goals they could reach and have been successful in life without hiding behind unions. Hopefully, someday you will see the light, my friend.

Honorfirst believes the Chinese laborers are just "happy to have a job"... LMAO. Is that why the hang themselves in the factories? Methinks they work because the State will have them shot if they don't. I can't believe you are actually singing the praises of Chinese labor practices. Have you no shame... or decency?

Yes I have taken a sick day when I wasn't sick and yes I have taken a mental health day. But I didn't expect my union to pay me for it either. The teachers that I've talked to that know about this are not happy that their JEA dollars went to this.

This is seen as a major flaw in the uniom mentality, protecting an employee that willfully breaks the rules. I am just amazed that so many of our "educated elite" feel this behavior is justified!
You all wonder why corporations are moving their operations overseas? Maybe it is because those people are happy to have a job and resist screwing the employer every opportunity they get. They always perform to the best of their ability, but then again they are not as spoiled as our lazy, over-paid, corrupt union employees!

Stop this insanity and take a look in the mirror people. All of you bashing these teachers. Are you telling us that YOU have never called in sick to your employer when you truly were able to work? How many of you have taken a "mental health day?" or simply a day "because you deserve it" and used a sick day? I'm sure there are a few that will say "no" but the majority if you were honest would say "yes" How righteous you must be!

I fall into the "no paid time off" category as a non-union private sector employee. Paid time off was the first benefit to go. My question to opponents to teachers getting paid for taking time off: Do you get paid time off as part of your benefits package?

Just can't resist, can you? :-)

xforever said, "Did you know that your JEA president and board have agreed to pay the teachers that did call in sick ($250)?"
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Wonderful to know that there are still such caring people in Wisconsin.

Attention Teachers who did not call in sick on the Thursday of protesting. Did you know that your JEA president and board have agreed to pay the teachers that did call in sick ($250)? How fair is that to you? Grievence???????????????

bebe53, as usual, your comment has absolutely nothing to do with my comment yet you preface it with my name. I'm starting to wonder if you have some obsession with me or my name...

These posters upset that their children or grandchildren were left alone in class. First of all, nobody here really knows the exact details of what "alone" means in each of these incidents. Secondly, you entrust your children or grandchildren to the teachers and staff at these schools. If you are so appalled that they would have left your children or grandchildren alone and no longer have confidence in them, then pull them out of the public school system and put them in a private school system of your choice. How could any parent or grandparent who is so appalled as you are possibly choose to leave your children in the care of these people for even another minute?

No one else is appalled the Van Buren 4Th graders had to write a letter to Walker saying he was hurting the teachers?!??

I am all for the teachers protesting about their rights, but I am appalled that the kids were left alone in class. Not the way to do it. I would have pissed if I found out that my Grandson was in class without adult supervision.

Over 100+ teachers were laid off yesterday in Janesville. Some of the cuts were coming before our Gov. was in control but many of the cuts are because of Gov. Walker's budget. These teachers were protesting for themselves, their fellow teachers, and most importantly for the children of Janesville.

madmomma, when your high school-aged daughter is not at school is there an adult with her at all times?

madmomma I agree my son goes to Parker and he also had a teacher missing. If I missed a day I would be docked pay, welcome to the real world people!

As a parent myself, I was appauled to find out my daughters 7th hour freshman class at Parker didn't even have an adult in the room with them the entire time. I think these teachers should suffer the consequences just like everyone else. JMO

totellthetruth said, "That was not democracy it was a protest. Democracy is a vote, not a discussion."
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That's absolutely the most idiotic thing I've read in a long time, and there's been a spate of idiotic comments lately. You have slaughtered the definition of the word democracy and I doubt you understand that the United States is not a democracy but a democratic republic.

NV- Love the anti-teacher comments by those who were unsuccessful in high school and are jealous of what professional educators make for a salary. They are LOSERS!

I am one of the anti-teacher comment posters and I was very successful in high school, and went on to serve 4 years in the military to protect the very country that you live in. However, what I did miss in my education is where it is justified to receive a paycheck for services not rendered. The defintion of supply and demand is quite the opposite. There are teachers who are inadequate at teaching our children and continue to receive payment. There are teachers that we are losing that are fabulous at their job and that is a shame. When we as a country realize that once hired for a job it does not mean that it is a guarantee for life that you will have this job, receive raises, and benefits. You must be able to be an asset in order to keep your job, then we as a school district will be able to employ teachers who truely are there to teach and are capable of doing a remarkable job at it. Until then we will continue to pay for inadequate teachers to teach our children and we as a community are teaching them that to be sub-par is okay and dont worry because once hired into the janesville school district, you will receive a paycheck for life. I am grateful my children are grown, and will continue to support a great education for the children of this generation, however, I will not support individuals not adequate at their job.

"My kids learned more in one day at the capital then they would have in 8 hours of school that day."
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1 day = 24 hours vs. 8 hours. Or are you taking a "work" day of 8 hours? If the latter, that means the schools are inefficient in use of their time.

globill - it doesn't make me sick that Walker is fixing Wisconsin. Please note that He is WINNING!

The laying-off of teachers yesterday has nothing to do with Walker and the Budget Bill. The shortfall of the Janesville School District budget was there long before Walker. They were over $10mil short before this ever started. The lay-offs were coming regardless. A large part of this is due to lower enrollment. The rest is due to over spending. The Janesville School Board has not acted effectively for the past several years. This is why your property taxes in Janesville are so high. The added burden from the Bill is just $3mil. You still needed to deal with the $10mil shortfall.

i_luv_jvl your awesome!!! that was DEAD ON!

What Walker was trying to do to teachers and public enployees in this state would make anyone sick. These teachers are minor martyrs for a just cause.

mrmeadec

The school board should be called, and the Gazette should be doing a story on that.

Below are a couple of quotes from this thread.
Apparently some of the lefties do not realize that Governer Walkers budget repair bill is tied up in court.
(Great post hodag60s)
hodag60s, Apr 11, 2011 at 6:23 p.m.
"Invoke ‘civility,’ when it is in our interest (to get conservatives to shut up), but otherwise feel free to use the vilest language possible.
It doesn’t matter if an accusation against a conservative is true or false; the only question is: can we use it to win (or discredit and demoralize conservatives)."
.
DanGleesac, Apr 11, 2011 at 6:47 p.m.
"All of you teacher haters are just that, HATERS. This city and district are in trouble. I hope you haters feel good about all the teachers that got laid off today. This was a big win for you Walker lovers."

Do you think that 3% raise enters in to this equation Dan?

If that is true mrmeadec? If so, that is going way overboard. I am trying to stay out of this but I was appalled at the liberal bias taught in schools when my kids were there. Using the children as pawns in this mess is disgusting.

How about an investigation on this Gazette?

you think this is bad my son is 4th grade at van buren and yesturday the kids had to write a letter to walker on how bad there hurting the teachers

After all you liberals big business haters sell your stocks I will BUY BUY BUY.

Athos. Look into your 401k and I would bet that you own most of these companys so if you don't like them SELL SELL SELL.

You no work, you no get paid. That's how it should work!

I agree that the 55 illegal, self-serving teachers should be fired - that will save the school district from laying-off so many good teachers.

gmaof3 - You say, "MY opinion is, Unions are COUNTER-productive to government. If they do not like their choice of careers, here's the back door!" That shoe fits on both feet pal. If you are so chapped off at what Union people make, as though you are not getting what you feel you are entitled too, then don't let the door hit you in the ass when you up and quit your private sector job to take a public sector (Union) job because you have it so bad and we have it so good! Who am I kidding, you would never do that now that the public union workers are currently getting or are going to get the shaft!

blue flu. I can't say I blame them. I also can't say they deserve to be paid. HOWEVER, if they have personal days to use and it was not stipulated how they can use them, there is no wrongdoing.

I don't know how much I would want to do my job if everyone else in the state wanted to hang me out to dry, either. And it's not like they were home watching Dr. Phil. They were standing up for what they believe in. Which, is not JUST about their personal finances, but also about the CHILDREN in the school districts where their education is at stake (long-term). One day is nothing...especially when you read the blogs about how the schools should have been cancelled because of a minor snow storm this past winter. Why don't you whiners just call it a belated snow day and go sit by your dishes?

Keep drinking the Koch brothers kool aid, you Walker loving weasels! :-( While you're spewing your drivel your friends at Bank of America, Bernie Sanders, Boeing, Carnival Cruise Lines, Chevron, Citigroup, and ConocoPhilips along with many others are paying little or no tax to perpetuate the class system you so strongly support! DUH! DUH!DUH!

Only a fool would think that the sick out that closed down Madison and other area schools for five days in February was anything but an illegal, union-coordinated, illegal strike.

But there are a lot of fools in Madison and elsewhere aren't there.

Now there is proof that the sickout was a premeditated, union-authorized job action -- a phone tree of teachers calling other teachers to close down the schools. This kind of activity is prohibited by the union’s own contract and illegal in WI Statute Chapter 111.84(2)(e):

It is unfair practice for an employee individually or in concert with others: To engage in, induce or encourage any employees to engage in a strike, or a concerted refusal to work or perform their usual duties as employees. Bring your children for a lesson in illegality.

The problem, of course, is finding an impartial prosecutor -- but that would require a level of professionalism sorely lacking in the Doyle-appointed incumbent in Dane county. Also lacking in Janesville area teachers who participated in the illegal action.

School officials are not able to determine which teachers had legitimate reasons? Who was their doctor. Was he from Madison? Local doctor maybe, but if they were in Madison the excuse is not valid.

School officials are not able to determine which teachers had legitimate reasons for not being at work on those days and those who did not.
.................

So, they can't TRUST the teachers to tell the truth. It seems to me that there is something wrong with the integrity of the people we entrust our children to.

Sadly, I think a lot is lost on Kiesha. But, if he has it his way, education in our community will breed lots more like him.

Sorry the sarcasm of that post was lost on you, Kiesha.

poobah...Put my name on your list. We Walker lovers eat kids for lunch.

They should strike.

"Some teachers docked pay for February absences"
Could this be true?
Really?
Teachers NOT PAID for time off?
Really?

haveconcerns - well said. I am glad every time I find voices of reason in these comments.

smallbizowner, taking a stand for the entire profession, and collective bargaining as a whole is not selfish. Avoiding a $2 a week increase in your property taxes at the expense of your community's education IS selfish. Shame on you and the rest of your small minded neighbors.

RoCoChick said, "The Gazette should obtain and publish the names of the 55 unexcused teachers that called in on Feb. 18. We should be made aware if our kids have any contact with these shamefull employees."
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I think the Gazette should obtain and publish the names of everyone who voted for Walker for Governor. We should be made aware if our kids have any contact with these shameful voters.

RoCoChick, have you ever read the Scarlet Letter? I think it is a shame how uneducated and small minded so many of our community members are. Good grief!

RoCoChick, have you ever read the Scarlet Letter? I think it is a shame how uneducated and small minded so many of our community members are. Good grief!

gmaof3 said, "If they do not like their choice of careers, here's the back door!"
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I would love to see all teachers make a career change as you suggest and leave you, gmaof3, with the task of babysitting and home schooling your grandchildren. I say babysitting because so many people like yourself seldom have a kind word to say about teachers and look at them as nothing more than babysitters.
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i_luv_jvl, as always, you're a very wise and caring person with enough common sense for both yourself and gmaof3. Too bad gmaof3 doesn't try to learn from you.

Ladystardust, you are 100% correct. I applaud the teachers that took the day off, sick or not, to protest the injustice taking place in Madison. I have never lived in a place where teachers are treated so badly and talked about with such disrespect as in Janesville. Keep it up, fools. In a few years, you'll be left with the teachers that can't find jobs anywhere else. The good ones will leave. Your kids lose because of your foolishness. What a dump this town is turning into.

The Gazette should obtain and publish the names of the 55 unexcused teachers that called in on Feb. 18. We should be made aware if our kids have any contact with these shamefull employees.

Love the anti-teacher comments by those who were unsuccessful in high school and are jealous of what professional educators make for a salary. They are LOSERS!

Janesville schools will not have to lay off as many teachers as they thought if they go ahead and fire the 55 selfish teachers that called in on Feb. 18 without an excuse.

i_luv_jvl: I loved your post. I agree with you as always. And thanks for getting it right to the point. But you know the right wing doesn't like to hear the truth. Their ears are closed to anything sensible.

I am a probation officer who deals with truant kids in a southern state. An unexcused absence from school is a day in jail for our kids on probation. You teachers who took a day off without a doctor's note should not only be docked a day's pay, but you should go to jail for breaking your promise.

I_luv_jvl: LOVE your post. How true it all is.

I hope we stay civil when the bigger budget crisis hit. I hope the left wakes up and see's what is happening to our country. More government and less freedom. The larger the government the more control they will have over ALL OF US. Hodag hits the nail with what the left is doing with the radical rules. I don't know how much longer the conservatives will put up with this crap the left is pulling.

wtmj 620 has podcast of the shows online

We the People
Don't Tread on Me

or ask me to pay your sick days, fake sick days, vacations, wages, healthcare, union dues, retirement, etc....

ladystardust: Hopefully, someone with a bit more integrity than yourself teaches your children that it is never ok to lie or cheat on a working agreement you have signed on with. Too many teachers and parents are corrupting their children with their own twisted sense of what is acceptable behavior. I'm sorry to say, but your values probably don't reflect most of societies values, and that my friend is nothing to be proud of.
Children should be taught respect for the law and keeping every promise they make, even if they don't like it. I'm seeing too many instances of people bending whatever rules they need to just to suit their own selfish purposes.

hodag60s- LOVE your post. How true it all is.

Why should the teachers that didn't call in pay for the teachers who did. Where are the JEA funds really going?

I think it's fair for them to be docked, but only if they don't have to work the make up day in May.

If I take the day off to protest anything I will not get paid for it. Why should they?

Hodag - credited to myself:
Rules for Republican Conservatives:
- Give as much $$$ back to your rich campaign contributors the first month in office so you can create a sudden budget concern - but call it a budget emergency, even though the recent report from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau just projected a surplus.
- Rush the "budget repair bill" you concocted through the legislature as fast as possible while you have majority senate seats;
- Include a union-busting action in the bill and call it a budget necessity in order to cripple the democratic party's largest supporter.
- (shoot - Dems left the state - people are taking notice - darn it!)
- Claim the Dems are on vacation ignoring their duties instead of standing up for their constituents. - (Remember to keep claiming this is about balancing a budget - no one knows what you gave back to the rich already - your followers are too stupid to search for evidence of truth.)
- Don't listen to the 100s of thousands of people asking for compromise, we compromise nothing.
- Rely on your rich constituents to continue feeding the media organizations they own to keep spewing the message you want people to get. Throw in a few angry protestors from other rallies if you have to.
- Continue to assume the people won't go directly to the source to find out what bills you snuck through in January before anyone was watching, even though it's posted here:
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/spotlight/spo...
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/spotlight/spo...
- Pass bills through the assembly and senate even if you have to break the law to do it.
- Claim the state judicial system has no governing power over you.
- Pay back campaign contributors more by giving their family members high paying positions, regardless of their history and incompetence.
- If you lose elections, find someone shady you can pay off who can change the results.

I think they should be docked...and I hope the docs that provided them with work excuses get investigated.

Don't worry the JEA approved to pay the teachers for their day off!

This city does not support it's teachers. I would and will discourage all new teachers from coming to the Janesville School District. All of you teacher haters are just that, HATERS. This city and district are in trouble. I hope you haters feel good about all the teachers that got laid off today. This was a big win for you Walker lovers. How dare teachers with Master's degreees and higher recieve good benefits. Everybody knows teachers don't get paid enough for babysitting, i mean teaching your kids.

hodag60s & whzbng, they must have missed the "doctor" handing out the "sickly excuse" slips up at the Capitol. Anyone know if he lost his license? Your posts are DEAD on, my friends!!! Our children are being held captive by people who "say" they are doing all of this for the children. What a joke!
Even though, by law, they are NOT allowed to strike, they suddenly got "sick, cough/gag/ugh..." whatever. MY opinion is, Unions are COUNTER-productive to government. If they do not like their choice of careers, here's the back door!

Actually I am out West on vacation unable to get any local radio station. Keeping up with the news via this gazette site, thankyou.

Credit to Charlye Sykes WTMJ 620 for last post

And what lesson will be learned when there are over 100 teacher layoffs because some teachers would not open their contract? Real democracy?A democracy is destined to fail as soon as people(figure out)they can vote themselves benefits and entiltements without considering whether the taxpayers as a whole can afford to pay for them. Teachers cheating with fake Dr's excuses???

With apologies to Saul Alinsky, the author of the original ":Rules for Radicals.": Here is an updated list specifically for Wisconsin:

Rules for WI Radicals

Never acknowledge conservative victories as legitimate.

Never concede defeat in legislative votes. There is always a cloud.

Litigate everything.

Rely on Dane County judges whenever possible.

Elections only matter if liberals win.

Shut down schools, bring legislative process to a halt, tie up the courts, extort businesses, try to overturn elections … and then say “this is what democracy looks like.” And bring your children to witness your acts.

Private businesses, families, personal lives are all fair game. Get the Mainstream media to say that “both sides’ are equally guilty.

Create appearance of scandal and misconduct wherever and whenever possible.

Chant “shame, shame, shame,” a lot.

Break laws, ignore rules, commit fraud, flee the state, change standards at will – but hold conservatives to a standard of absolute compliance. (For example, using the open meetings law to tie up the union bill.)

If we can’t defeat conservatives at the ballot box, we can discredit them and demoralize them. If we get inside their heads, we win.

Encourage conspiracy theories. Use the phrase “Koch Brothers,” as often as possible.

Create chaos whenever possible.

Demand investigations, even if there is nothing to investigate. It adds to appearance of chaos and misconduct. Media will always bite.

Bully, intimidate, and threaten, unleash union thugs… but repeatedly accuse Scott Walker and the GOP of being bullies.

Hold many rallies.

Remember: there is no voter fraud, except when the charge works for our benefit.

Invoke ‘civility,’ when it is in our interest (to get conservatives to shut up), but otherwise feel free to use the vilest language possible.

It doesn’t matter if an accusation against a conservative is true or false; the only question is: can we use it to win (or discredit and demoralize conservatives).

Don't respond to talk radio or other conservative media: discredit them. Remember they are never to be considered a legitimate alternative viewpoint: they are liars." (Politifact will be helpful.)

Rely on the conservative base to hold their own to a higher standard than we do. We don’t care about the private lives of Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, or Chris Abele, but they will turn on their own in cases where we would just look the other way. (The MSM accepts and embraces the double standard so use it.)

Accuse conservatives of hypocrisy a lot. Obviously we are immune to the charge, since we don’t have any standards… except getting our way.

Use every controversy to stoke leftist anger and paranoia and raise money.

Never, ever stop.

I was glad I got the robo call saying the schools were closed for the day. Not only was protesting necessary in Madison, but we were able to teach our children what real democracy looks like. My kids learned more in one day at the capital then they would have in 8 hours of school that day. When Walker is telling TEACHERs they are NOT invited to the table to TALK about their pay/benefits or compromises, there is a HUGE problem in AMERICA.

thats wrong but the neglected children, that there WILL be, because of the budget bill are ok??

It's the neglected school kids that ultimately pay the price for the foolish actions of these selfish teachers.