The reactionary teachers unions, lumbering to the tar pits, still don't get it. The climate has changed and it has nothing to do with Al Gore.Paleontologists here at the Blaska Research Factory have uncovered one Lisa Mux. (Love the name!)
Ms. Mux is a Waukesha teacher who -- I give credit -- blogs Left in Waukesha County at Waukesha Wonk.
She is outraged that school boards -- chosen by the people in free elections -- have been liberated to actually set policy. Just this week the school board in New Berlin, Wis., did so unanimously, to the evident approval of the citizens of their community and perhaps unilaterally, although other school districts have voluntarily involved teachers without giving up their statutory authority.
In brief, New Berlin is calling for a little more work for the dollar. This is not an unfamiliar phenomenon for folks in the private sector during the Obama Recession but elicits howls of outrage from the unionized public school teachers.
Apparently, the New Berlin school board also now requires a dress code. That it needed to do so is a sad commentary on unionism run amok. No skirts above the knee, no sweatshirts and, according to Ms. Mux's uncertain provenance, teachers are required to wear pantyhose. This is evidence of "tactics to suppress women's power."
What most discombobulates this thoroughly unionized teacher blogger is that taxpayers -- at least half the audience of 600 -- showed their faces at the New Berlin School Board meeting this week. Usually, such affairs are between the school board and its union. (Which may be why the Madison School Board is seeking out audiences outside the normal Doyle administration building setting, which is happy hunting grounds for the teachers union.)
Even Blue Cheddar, "a progressive blog," acknowledges that the New Berlin teachers were augmented by ringers from other school districts.
The taxpayers, according to the Mux lesson plan, are "bullies" as in "that's just one of the regressive new policies the New Berlin school board passed last night, with help from bullies in the crowd."
Yes, a teacher was booed. If the New Berlin examples are as radicalized as you, Ms. Mux, I'd boo, too.
At least you still have a job. Many of my friends in the private sector do not.
Rethinking terrorists in schools
Perhaps Ms. Mux will be among the mischief makers attending the 25th anniversary celebration of Rethinking Schools on October 15. I've warned folks about the Rethinkers before. (Blaska's Blog exposes 3rd-grade brainwashers)
They're all caught up in "How do we bring the fight to protect and transform public schools into our classrooms? How do we connect our classrooms to the struggles in the streets? As the crisis over public education escalates, activist teachers are experimenting with new approaches."
And experimenting with our children!
But the October 15 shindig has someone that Muxed-up teachers should enjoy: that unrepentant domestic terrorist and Obama pal, Weatherman Bill Ayers!
Who ran up on whom?
Now the Left, denied seeing Justice David Prosser in the dock, are retreating to notion that he is responsible for a "hostile work environment." The mainstream news media still cannot extricate itself from the meme laid down by Prosser-enemy Bill Lueders that here's another woman victimized by a man.
The liberal establishment's verdict is that Prosser is guilty of not running for his life as an angry woman came at him with fists raised.
However unintentionally, Matt Rothschild stumbles onto that point. The editor of The Progressive rues the special prosecutor's "weirdly written statement" that she would not file charges "against either Justice Bradley OR Justice Prosser." (My emphasis) Actually, when you know the facts, not so weird. Here is that statement:
After a complete review of the documents and photos, listening to the audio interview and meeting with Det. Hansen, I have determined that no criminal charges will be filed against either Justice Bradley or Justice Prosser for the incident on June 13, 2011.
BTW, is Rothschild trying to hide the fact that it was a female district attorney who made the decision? Yes, I know that the special prosecutor named to look into the June 14 Supreme Court kerfuffle signed herself "P.A. Barrett." But every other source I've come across identifies the special prosector as Patricia Barrett. Rothschild even avoids using feminine pronouns in his account.
Bradley "was caused to"
Most of the accounts recorded by the sheriff's department investigation (PDF) have Bradley flying at Prosser who was standing just outside the threshold of her small office. Even the Supreme Court's marshall, Tina Nodolf, told investigators that Bradley herself said Prosser's conservation with the chief justice "caused Justice Bradley to stand up and walk swiftly towards Justice Prosser." (Page 10 of 70. Note the lack of accountability in the use of the passive voice. She was "caused" to walk swiftly.)
Tina Nodolf further says,
"Justice Roggensack told Justice Bradley to "calm down, your not acting like yourself. You didn't have to rush at Dave." [Page 10 of 70]
It is a statement Roggensack confirms.
Justice Roggensack said Justice Bradley came at Justice Prosser "very fast". [Page 53 of 70]
Three of the justices (Prosser, Roggensack, and Gableman) have her raising a fist and one of them, Justice Patience Roggensack says that Bradley would have hit Prosser had she not pulled them apart.
Justice Roggensack told Justice Bradley that she did not stop him [Prosser] from anything, and added, "I stopped you from hitting him." [Page 54 of 70]
None of the six justices present -- that includes Chief Justice (don't call her by her first name) Abrahamson and Justice Bradley herself -- dispute that Bradley came at Prosser, not the other way around.
Fact is, if Justice Ann Walsh Bradley had remained in her seat, instead of flying across the room at Justice David Prosser with fists raised, there would have been no incident. Prosser wasn't even talking to her, he was addressing the chief justice -- and in "measured tones." i.e., he was not shouting or swearing. Anger management, Justice Bradley.
Why didn't Prosser run for cover?
Yes, Prosser is to blame. Why didn't he high-tail it out of there when Bradley came flying at him. Hilarious debate over at Ms. Emily's Post. Mizz Emily throws the penalty flag on Justice David Prosser for "invading" Justice Ann Walsh Bradley's "personal space."
It's called a personal space bubble - most people reflexively honor it.
Reader Francis Di Domizio quite reasonably parries:
Except apparently Justice Bradley? Prosser didn't invade her bubble, she invaded his.
In parting
Visitors to the Stately Manor are wondering if Fighting Ed Garvey made good on his promise to run the Squire's turgid screed on his Lefty website. The answer is here.
Key kids! Bookmark the B-Blog at http://www.isthmus.com/blaska/
Well, what are you waiting for?
