Where is the love?

Wisconsin.

I can't help it. I've been obsessing over news and Facebook posts for the past two weeks. I can't stand it that we're not there, speaking out against this attack on teachers. TEACHERS.

Clearly, as a group, we are a bunch of greedy, self-centered, idiots that only entered the profession because we weren't smart enough to pursue loftier professions in our subject areas. I mean, why else would anyone teach, right?

Unfortunately, as a group, we are in a constant state of survival. Education systems are always struggling to make ends meet, painful and heart-wrenching budget cuts each year coming out because we live in a country that includes people who refuse to recognize and support our children. But, we go on, finding ways to keep doing what is best for kids. Why? Because we love teaching. We love kids. We believe in what we do, despite being constantly beaten down.

I don't know a single teacher that hasn't made sacrifices- time, resources, PERSONAL finances, because of this belief in the importance of the education for the children of America. Sure unions have faults. I lost my ideal job and was utterly heartbroken by the tenure system. But, bargaining rights are not just about salary and benefits. Kids can't speak for themselves. Who will if the teachers are silenced?

So while Walker gives huge tax breaks to the wealthy, creating this "budget crisis", that the teachers are WILLING to make financial sacrifices for effectively solving his "budget crisis" (but not give up their union rights that help protect quality education standards) and he STILL refuses to negotiate, meanwhile spreading anti-teacher rhetoric and using it to promote a partisan political agenda that he is the test case for an entire movement against government workers across the country, I sit here, trying my hardest to not give into utter despair and wonderment at the sheer inhumanity that is possible amongst the "haves" against the "have nots". THEY'RE OUR COUNTRY'S CHILDREN FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!!!!

But, instead of falling into those depths of the negative, I choose to look towards the hope. People are speaking out. Dialogues are happening. People from across the country (and the globe) are buying pizza for the protesters. Maybe we can even get those anti-teacher talkers to walk in our shoes.

No matter what, we'll get through this. We will keep teaching and doing what is best for kids, not for corporate America. So, every time we're beaten down by the teacher-haters, it's time to channel our inner Ghandi, think about "what would Jesus do", and look into the eyes of our students, because, that's were the love is. That's where it will be always.

Rachel