Parents and Kids Fight for Education

Parents are fighting for their kids’ education. 

Waukesha County lawmakers, school district officials and parents said they’re standing firm behind an Assembly bill to change Internet school laws in order to save the Waukesha School District’s iQ Academies and preserve innovative learning in the state.

Supporters said the bill needs to be passed soon, otherwise more than 3,000 students from across the state will be displaced from school in August, putting families in an awkward position in deciding how to further their child’s education.

“This bill is the answer to our prayers,” said Rose Fernandez, president of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families during a teary-eyed speech Tuesday in Madison. “Today is a really bittersweet day because it’s life or death for us.”

Will the state government listen?

1. "Will the state government listen?”

   Depends if they consider it hypocritical that WEAC members can utilize online classes or distance learning to meet continuing education requirements or postgraduate studies (which in turn mandate contractually obligated step pay increases).

   I’m not holding my breath…

   Posted by on January 18, 2008 at 0026 hrs




2. Will the state government listen?

   Depends. This is an issue like sewers and street repair that should happen with a minimum of fuss and politics; you just get out and get it done in the most cost-effective qnd effective way possible.

   Posted by Brian on January 18, 2008 at 0138 hrs




3. Minor quibble - while the article says ‘hundreds’ the more accurate count would be ‘1100’ people.  A better description would be ‘over a thousand’.

   Posted by Brian on January 18, 2008 at 0140 hrs




4. Hard to say.  Unions are - by far - the most influential and powerful groups of people in America, as seen here:

   http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.asp?order=A

   As we all know, justice can most certainly be bought.  I don’t want to be pessimistic, and miracles can happen, but it isn’t looking good for this charter school.  Hopefully there are some elected officials out there who still have a conscience.

   Posted by Joey on January 18, 2008 at 2343 hrs




5. Joey, despair is a sin.

   Representative democracy is a pain in the ass if you want to fight interests like unions ... bu it’s the best system we’ve got to ensure a level playing field.

   On my blog I printed a letter received this morning from William Harbron, Superintendent of Northern Ozaukee School District.  He writes in his opening paragraph ...

   I have just returned from two days in Madison with a great sense of optimism about the future of virtual schools. You are to be commended for being present and having your voice heard by our state senators and representatives. Your voice was heard and made a vital difference in the fate of bills AB 692 and SB 396.

   People can make a difference but they have to put out a little bit - writing your reps and telling them how you feel works.

   Posted by Brian on January 19, 2008 at 1007 hrs




6. There is little political courage in Madison for anything controversial.  I hope that they do the right thing but I do not hold my breath.

   Posted by on January 19, 2008 at 1147 hrs