"I'm counting on you," Tracy from Mondovi wrote me.
Tracy was one of many constituents who recently contacted me about a big change in the state's teaching standards.
In late night budget action, after freezing the school revenue limit and allowing no increase in aid, the Republican majority voted to strip away teaching standards.
At the heart of this proposal is a complete disregard for the profession of teaching.
Proponents of this proposal assume that because you know something, you can also teach it. Any parent who has tried to assist a child with their math homework knows there is a big difference between knowing and teaching a subject.
Learning comes differently to each of us. Part of the process of teaching is finding the unique learning style of each child and tailoring the lesson to allow each child to succeed. Knowing the content is the beginning, not the end of teacher education.
It's been a long time since I took college classes to be educated as a teacher. But the lessons I learned follow me into every town hall meeting.
I thank the professors in the School of Education for the lessons they instilled in my intensive two-year teacher-training program. What I do in a public setting is effective because I consciously put in practice what I learned long ago.
Teachers know it is not just what you know but how you act that makes the difference for students mastering new knowledge or entirely turning off to a subject.
Why indeed? Do we want Wisconsin to lead the nation in a lack of standards for teachers? International research tells us high standards for teachers and intensive teacher education result in the best outcome for students.
We need a widespread public outcry to stop what's happening in this budget.
Everyone in Wisconsin has a stake in providing the best education possible for the generations to come. Now is the time to get involved. Your grandchild's future depends on your action.