WEAC Calls for Commitment to Children, Education
Any legislative proposals dealing with education should make children
the top priority, according to the president of the Wisconsin Education
Association Council.
“The governor’s State of the State address contains proposals
that need careful study,” WEAC President Terry Craney said. “We
caution lawmakers and the governor to keep children’s needs foremost
when considering educational programs.”
Anticipated proposals for education tax credits and deductions do not
directly benefit children, Craney said.
“The state should be very careful when the Legislature has committed
hundreds of millions of dollars in future spending. Tax plans to allow
the wealthy to send their children to summer camp raise many questions.”
WEAC believes any education package should minimally contain the following
initiatives:
- Adjustments to revenue controls to allow school districts to compensate
for program and building maintenance/repair reductions. “Revenue
controls have forced districts to cut programs and services, severely
limiting children's learning opportunities,” Craney said. “Nearly
two-thirds of the state's school districts have delayed building maintenance
or improvement projects because of revenue controls; a third have
increased class sizes. It's time the state changes this repressive
law before the quality of education in our schools is seriously compromised.”
- Programs to enhance teacher quality, such as a state Professional
Standards Council, incentives to receive National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards certification, and programs to assist new teachers.
“A well-prepared and well-trained teaching force will ensure
the quality of education in Wisconsin schools remains among the best
in the nation,” Craney said. “Adoption of these recommendations
would raise Wisconsin's grade to an A on Education Week's ‘Quality
Counts' report.”
- Assistance for Milwaukee Public Schools as proposed by the district,
including class size reduction, improvements to school buildings and
revenue limit increases to cover the costs of summer school and alternative
education programs.
“Expanding the successful SAGE class size reduction program in
Milwaukee and other needy areas of the state is one key to improving
education,” Craney said. “Milwaukee Public Schools need special
attention. Poverty and teen pregnancy are destroying many children's
learning opportunities. Any solution to MPS's problems must look beyond
the classroom to the community at large.”
Posted January 21, 1998