A history lesson explaining why teachers fight
Christian Schneider wants readers to believe that the needs of public education workers are not tied to the needs of our students. His right-wing rhetoric against teachers’ unions is part of a coordinated national campaign to destroy public schools.
As a Milwaukee Public Schools history teacher for nearly two decades, I’d like to set the historical record straight about public education in Wisconsin and why teachers have a moral obligation to fight for our students.
Eighteen years ago, the opinion of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in Vincent v. Voight (2000 WI 93), was that the Legislature must provide sufficient resources for school districts to offer students “equal opportunity for a sound basic education.” Rather than providing equal opportunities for students, the current school funding formula increases inequality between school districts. This has left the constitutionality of our state’s school finance system in question.
In 2017, the revenue limit per pupil for Nicolet students was $7,994 higher than the revenue limit for Milwaukee Public School students. Imagine what MPS could provide for students with $600 million more in per-pupil funding.
Not only is the funding system flawed, but the rapid expansion of private voucher schools has siphoned already limited tax dollars out of our public schools. Voucher schools have failed to improve educational outcomes for students and further segregated our city.
Along with Act 10 came a barrage of anti-teacher rhetoric. Conservative talk show hosts filled the radio waves describing images of teachers riding six-figure salary gravy trains. They did this by lumping the cost of teacher benefit packages in with teachers’ salaries. I have yet to meet a traditional MPS teacher making six figures.
As a result of these attacks on teachers, young people are fleeing the profession. According to a 2016 report from the Public Policy Forum, 22.5% of Wisconsin teachers have left the profession in recent years. New teachers worry that the current system does not guarantee a clear career path, and enrollment in Wisconsin teacher preparation programs is down nearly 28%. A traditional first-year teacher entering MPS makes $41,477 a year with no guarantee of ever advancing on a pay scale.
Not to mention, teaching has become more difficult. With the decrease in funding for public schools, there are fewer adults for every student. The increase in class sizes means teachers take home more work than ever. The increase in pointless meetings, oversight to justify administrative bloat, mandatory busy work and other nonteaching duties that take us away from doing what we do best, teaching students.
If we look at history, we shouldn’t be surprised to see teachers across the country fighting back. Milwaukee public education workers are demanding a reversal of the 5% cuts to MPS schools, more time to meet the needs of our students, no further changes to our healthcare benefits and a wage schedule that can attract and retain the educators our students deserve.
This spring, educators in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Colorado and Arizona made history in the fight to protect public school students.
If Milwaukee teachers are in fact “doomed to repeat history,” then get ready to see additional school funding, smaller class sizes and a renewed hope for the future of Milwaukee Public Schools.