Muskego Teacher Attends Protest in Madison

Lake Denoon Middle School teacher Anna Wendt traveled to Madison on Sat., Feb 19 to support the opposition to Governor Scott Walker's budget repair bill.

Wendt is the chief negotiator and co-chair of the United Lakewood Educators-Muskego for the Muskego-Norway School District.

She described the experience nothing short of amazing.

"It was incredible to be part of this enormous group of people against the bill, but very much in support of each other," Wendt said. "It made me even more proud to be a public employee."

She said she saw some of the Walker supporters, but there was little interaction except for one man who kept shouting, "Bust the unions." Wendt said his voice rang out during a lull in chanting and another man answered, "I thought this was about balancing the budget."

Which brings Wendt to a point she wants to understand.

"If Governor Walker says this bill is about balancing the budget and the unions have already conceded the health care and pension payments, why were those concessions not enough?" she asked.

According to Wendt, Muskego-Norway teacher pay would decrease by 6.5 percent, and they are willing to do that, but collective bargaining is more about working conditions.

"Without collective bargaining, teachers could see class sizes increase, which is bad for students and teachers," she continued. "It also helps ensure time for collaboration, which we've really been working with the district to make happen, and could decrease time for development."

Collaboration is teacher-to-teacher mentoring and conferencing for classroom best practices so kids are given the highest possible level of instruction that works.

"This is work we do for better schools so kids can get the education they deserve," Wendt said.