Mob Mentality in Madison, Wisconsin

For the past week, there have been large protests at the statehouse in Madison, Wisconsin, by members of the state's teachers unions, as they are protesting Governor Scott Walker's proposal that forces members to contribute to their pensions and pay for their health care costs. These massive protests have caused school districts across Wisconsin to shut down for days, bringing the learning process to a screeching halt for these students, who are sadly caught in the middle.

In addition to the school closings, the behavior from the unions has been absolutely atrocious. Between having their students tag along, to the ugly language they are using against Governor Walker, to breaking the law in their sick outs, the union leadership is trashing the reputation of the teachers, which they have fought hard to build over the 20th century. The supporters are no better, as the Obama Administration has its fingerprints all over these protests and Wisconsin Senate Democrats have high-tailed it out of the state, on the taxpayers dime, to halt the legislative process and delay the vote. It seems the only sane person in this is Scott Walker, who in the end, is trying to save money for the state and seems to have strong resolve.

Other states are familiar with this mob-like behavior, especially in New Jersey, between the 2001 Middletown Teachers Strike and Governor Chris Christie's attempt at reforms, which are not as draconian as in Wisconsin, and are unique in the country, as New Jersey has over 600 school districts, with their own Boards of Education, Superintendents and Administrators, as opposed to other states who have county and regional district organization; yet have brought out the ire of the teachers union and its members, as well as those who feel the governor has left mid-level, out-of-classroom administrators, out of the cuts. The sad fact is that we are in a recession that has also affected private industry, as companies nationwide have either frozen salaries, laid off workers or forced higher pension/healthcare contributions; and government does not have the money. In order to save jobs and strengthen educational offerings in years to come, these actions are necessary.

These protests are clearly exposing the problems with teachers unions, not only in Wisconsin, but across the country: tenure protections that allow teachers to flaunt the law, trash their clientele and stand by it, younger teachers who want to be in education that cannot find a job because of their high salary cost, "over-qualified" status, political affiliation or lack of political/administrative connection to the respective district; inconsistent protection between tenured and non-tenured teachers, along with not caring about their students and communities, and only their membership.

In the end, it's the younger teachers who want to see their profession respected that need to look the fear of being ostracized, physical harm and defamation of character by union leadership/allied administrators, straight in the eye, speak up and stand up to the union leadership that is destroying the reputation of teachers, while hampering their professional growth; and elect new union leadership that actually supports and advocates in the interests of teachers.