Sluggo:

A well thought out response-Ummmmmmm. BTW, I'm not opposed to labor unions in theory, only in practice.

Um, Unions helped get you what your paid. Go to Thailand - they need workers. I hear they'll pay up to 25 cents a day.
FYI - it is illegal for teachers in Wisconsin to strike. You should know that.

Moby:

I am not anti-teacher. I am anti-union thuggery. In fact, I am married to a teacher.

I've wrote this before, a major problem with public education today is the behavior of teacher unions. One problem is that they block the door to progress: if it doesn't "serve their membership" in the form of less work for more pay, they're not interested.

Teachers often complain that they aren't respected, yet they happily join unions whose leadership is all too willing to conduct labor-union thuggery, the most common of which is extortion (in the form of labor strikes-which is not allowed in JSD-but sick outs are encouraged-no difference in my opinion).

America is a nation of diversity, where freedom of choice is cherished. Unless of course you choose not to join the teacher union, which will quickly make you a pariah, to say nothing of what will happen if you choose to go to work when the union decides to picket. This is to say nothing of the fact that in some school districts, one must join the union to be hired to teach. Freedom of choice, indeed.

America is a nation of entrepreneurs, where one has the potential to be rewarded in proportion to one's efforts. Except with public school teachers, where tenured deadwood teachers make more than crackerjack, dedicated first year teachers. More effort and even better results from individual teachers is not compensated, in fact merit pay is disparaged by the teacher unions, for it doesn't fit in with the whole "solidarity" theme.

BTW, Teachers cannot hold back students anymore-they are simply passed on. I am a proponent of compulsary education, however, there needs to be competition and who is consistently blocking progress-----the teachers union.

TCB, I still think those that are teaching the kids are a bit more important.than the 15 minutes of fame routine.. by the way, why are you so anti-teachers, don't tell me one held you back once,,,lol

You may want to run that last one by your teacher.

TCB: Next time you read, or write a well-constructed paragraph, thank your teacher.

Moby:

How often does a team from Wisconsin, let alone Janesville attempt to win a national championship-any national championship? Rarely. Both teams were remarkable-and worthy of a top 10 story for a sleepy hamlet like Janesville. Look for Craig and Parker to have very good baseball teams in the near future.

As for the teachers, it is the same song, same tune during every contract negotiation:

1. Teachers needs more money for cost of living-salary is too low (but dont mention other benefits)

2. Teachers cannot afford to pay a larger portion of their health insurance because they are not paid enough (but dont mention our fully funded pension and 180 day work year)

3. Teachers agree not to strike (but no one says anything about staging "sick outs" and no one attempts to negotiate a contract over the summer)

4. Adminstration makes too much money-does too little (jealousy and envy).

These 4 items will be the same points of contention for future negotiations...

Let me guess, the kids making it to the semi-finals is important to how many families,,,15 to 20 maybe??? But those same kids teachers morale being destroyed by the anti-teacher bias is affecting how many kids??? You do the math while there is still someone that was taught how to do it!!! I vote for the teachers lack of a contract, but the Gazette wouldn't go against the powers that be, would they??

I also vote for the Babe Ruth team! I never attended any of the team's games and I can't name a single player, but I know a good-news story when I see one. Sorry, Janesville Gazette, you struck out on this one.

Great Job Coach Mike Graves and Players... you are the top story....of 2007!!!

I vote for the baseball team, but it wasn't little league, it was Babe Ruth.

You can refer to the Gazette's top picks at http://gazettextra.com/news/2007/dec/31/....