“Money will come and go and salaries can be raised and lowered,” Cao said, in an interview from the halls of the statehouse where he was staked out with thousands of others. “We can make sacrifices. But this move by the governor has nothing to do with trying to balance a budget. This just has to do with taking rights away from workers.”
Today, as he has for the past four days, Cao has been with tens of thousands of colleagues and even his own students at the Capitol. Many school districts around the state are closed and educators and students are protesting in the capital and their towns.
WISC reported that, in addition to Madison, closed districts included Beaver Dam, DeForest, Edgerton, La Crosse, Middleton-Cross Plains, Monona, Mosinee, Oregon, Racine, Stoughton, Verona, Watertown and Waunakee.
In attempt to stave off the Republican attack, Democratic senators left the Capitol so the Senate would not have a quorum. More than 25,000 people reportedly filled the Capitol, the surrounding grounds and adjacent streets Thursday and more are expected Friday.
 |
| Madison teacher Anthony Cao joined protests at the state Capitol. |
“There are those who say students are apathetic,” Cao said. “But they could have done anything they wanted to and they’re here in droves. They support education and their teachers.”
Cao penned his thoughts on the protest in Wisconsin for a friend on Facebook. He shared his reflections with EducationVotes, a website of the National Education Association.
“This is not a paid day off,” Cao wrote. “I was conflicted about the idea of taking the day off while still being paid with our community’s tax dollars, but that is not the case. Teachers will not be compensated without a doctor’s note. No teacher to whom I have spoken will be procuring one.
“Next, I was conflicted about not being at school with my students. I love my job; I love my students; and I’d rather be in my classroom teaching than doing just about anything else.
“I remembered, though, that earlier this year, students at Madison West High School led the way in protest over a school restructuring program that they felt would harm their education. As a teacher, I remained as neutral as I could, but one lesson that I hope I imparted to the students is that social/political change is not neat and tidy.
“When you choose to make your voice heard, there are consequences, and you must understand and accept them. No one got a free pass for walking out of my class; rather, an unexcused absence, a lunch detention, etc. was the sacrifice some students were willing to make for a cause in which they believed.
“I was proud of the students – protesting or not – as they wrestled with the concepts of justice, education, authority, and self-efficacy.
“As thousands of public employees and their supporters march to the Capitol today, some people would say that these concepts and this situation are too complex for their young children to understand. However, one thing I’ve learned in my teaching career is not to underestimate young people.
“And you know what else? A good teacher can teach these lessons. I desperately want to keep these good teachers in Wisconsin to teach my own children.
“Today, the cause is urgent, and I am again remembering the students at Madison West High School. While I’m not leading this lesson in the classroom, I hope I am teaching by example: when you see injustice, you have to speak out. You have to take action, no matter what the consequences.
“This teachable moment is one that I hope the students will consider. It is a stronger lesson than almost any lesson that any teacher could teach in any classroom while the students sit idly by watching history happen to them.”
This article is reprinted from the EducationVotes website and includes information from WISC TV.
Related article
Thousands protest, close schools to oppose Wisconsin governor’s plan
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“Money will come and go and salaries can be raised and lowered,” Cao said, in an interview from the halls of the statehouse where he was staked out with thousands of others. “We can make sacrifices. But this move by the governor has nothing to do with trying to balance a budget. This just has to do with taking rights away from workers.”
Today, as he has for the past four days, Cao has been with tens of thousands of colleagues and even his own students at the Capitol. Many school districts around the state are closed and educators and students are protesting in the capital and their towns.
WISC reported that, in addition to Madison, closed districts included Beaver Dam, DeForest, Edgerton, La Crosse, Middleton-Cross Plains, Monona, Mosinee, Oregon, Racine, Stoughton, Verona, Watertown and Waunakee.
In attempt to stave off the Republican attack, Democratic senators left the Capitol so the Senate would not have a quorum. More than 25,000 people reportedly filled the Capitol, the surrounding grounds and adjacent streets Thursday and more are expected Friday.
|
| Madison teacher Anthony Cao joined protests at the state Capitol. |
“There are those who say students are apathetic,” Cao said. “But they could have done anything they wanted to and they’re here in droves. They support education and their teachers.”
Cao penned his thoughts on the protest in Wisconsin for a friend on Facebook. He shared his reflections with EducationVotes, a website of the National Education Association.
“This is not a paid day off,” Cao wrote. “I was conflicted about the idea of taking the day off while still being paid with our community’s tax dollars, but that is not the case. Teachers will not be compensated without a doctor’s note. No teacher to whom I have spoken will be procuring one.
“Next, I was conflicted about not being at school with my students. I love my job; I love my students; and I’d rather be in my classroom teaching than doing just about anything else.
“I remembered, though, that earlier this year, students at Madison West High School led the way in protest over a school restructuring program that they felt would harm their education. As a teacher, I remained as neutral as I could, but one lesson that I hope I imparted to the students is that social/political change is not neat and tidy.
“When you choose to make your voice heard, there are consequences, and you must understand and accept them. No one got a free pass for walking out of my class; rather, an unexcused absence, a lunch detention, etc. was the sacrifice some students were willing to make for a cause in which they believed.
“I was proud of the students – protesting or not – as they wrestled with the concepts of justice, education, authority, and self-efficacy.
“As thousands of public employees and their supporters march to the Capitol today, some people would say that these concepts and this situation are too complex for their young children to understand. However, one thing I’ve learned in my teaching career is not to underestimate young people.
“And you know what else? A good teacher can teach these lessons. I desperately want to keep these good teachers in Wisconsin to teach my own children.
“Today, the cause is urgent, and I am again remembering the students at Madison West High School. While I’m not leading this lesson in the classroom, I hope I am teaching by example: when you see injustice, you have to speak out. You have to take action, no matter what the consequences.
“This teachable moment is one that I hope the students will consider. It is a stronger lesson than almost any lesson that any teacher could teach in any classroom while the students sit idly by watching history happen to them.”
This article is reprinted from the EducationVotes website and includes information from WISC TV.
Related article
Thousands protest, close schools to oppose Wisconsin governor’s plan