Here we go Again

I promise to never take for granted the great education I got in my small-town, neighborhood schools.  I had art, music, P.E. and a fully staffed and funded library.  I was able to take band lessons starting in sixth grade, play sports in middle school and high school without paying large fees, and had class sizes of 25-30, not 35-40.  I only wish my kids could have the same.

It's that time of year when MPS sets the budget and the parents of MGIS scramble to figure out how to make up the difference.  With a $600 dollar per pupil cut, things do not look good.  On the block this year are 2 teaching positions, all of the remaining aides, and one secretarial position.  In addition music will be cut from 30 min a week to 15 min and physical education to 20 min a week.  My sons are lucky to attend one of the high-performing schools in MPS, just imagine what it is like on the other end of the spectrum.

I'm especially disheartened by the unbelievable sums of money being thrown into all thing politics.  If one-tenth of the money being thrown into the 2013 elections could be funneled into the schools, imagine the difference it would make. Imagine.

Something I Wish I Would Never Have to Write

I feel fortunate to live in the great state of Wisconsin where I feel the education I received in my childhood was one of the finest in the nation.  I was lucky to have art, music and phy ed on a regular basis.  We had band starting in sixth grade and foreign language in the middle school and high school.  We had sports, plays, music, a fully funded library, and even a gifted and talented program.  My hometown district, Baraboo, rightfully bragged about all it had to offer and the success of its students.  I remember some tests but the emphasis was on quality education not test scores.

Is it too much to ask that my own children have access to the same things?  One would not think so but apparently the answer is yes, it is.  I have previously vented about the educational and financial state of Wisconsin.  I knew cuts would hit us not only in the form of Ben's paycheck but changes at both his and the boys school.  I was hoping it would not be so severe.

John and Sam (and hopefully Andrew in 2012) have the good fortune to attend one of the excellent schools in the Milwaukee Public School System (yes, there are excellent schools in MPS!).  The are learning in not one, but two languages at Milwaukee German Immersion School (MGIS).  Starting in 4K the children receive all instruction in German.  Instruction in English does not begin until 2nd grade with reading.  As a first grader John can read and write in two languages as well as hold a mostly-fluent conversation in German.  100% of children who finish 5th grade at MGIS graduate from high school.  Sounds too good to be true for a public school in Milwaukee, right?

Regardless of your political opinion, cuts to MGIS and all public schools in Wisconsin are going to hit hard.  I can only speak to my boys' school where they are facing an unprecedented budget shortfall of $420,000 for the 2011-2012 school year.  (Yes, that is four zeros after that 42!)  What does this mean for their school of 600 students?   Physical education is currently provided once every three days, next year it will be once every two weeks.  In a time when the entire nation is battling against the increase in obesity among adults and children alike, you would think this wouldn't be happening.  Music is currently provided once every three days, next year it to will be provided once every two weeks.  A reading resource teacher meets with students every day of the week, next year the teacher will meet with students once a week.  Currently there are eight classroom assistants each working 30-35 hours a week, next year there will be 3 assistants each working 20 hours a week; this will leave the 4K and 5K teachers with a ratio of 25-30 students to one teacher for nearly the entire school day.  The list continues: library assistant hours are cut nearly in half, a literacy coach staffed by district offices in eliminated, and a math teacher leader also staffed by the district office is eliminated.

Luckily, the parents and staff at MGIS are strong and working together to close the gap by starting a viral fundraising campaign.  Our immediate goal is to raise $700 for each student.  Attached is the link to our group, Hilfe.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/54819234/Close-the-Gap-Final-PTS#source:facebook

Unfortunately, not every MPS school will be so fortunate to have parents go to bat for them.  The children that have so little are on the brink of losing so much more.

Shift Changes and Priorities

Not much new in the Anderson Homeland.  I think everyone is counting down the days until the end of school and the start of summer.  We've been busy yet have had no major events.  Andrew and Wyatt continue to alternate between angelic and demonic behavior; at this moment Andrew is playing the part of the devil and Wyatt the part of innocent bystander.  I'm sure by the time I finish this post, they will have switched roles.

John and Sam are back into the swing of school as is Ben.  Unfortunately this year the boys' break did not correspond with Ben's so it seemed as if there was no break at all.  Ben is busy coaching shot and discus for girl's track.  It has meant a lot of evenings away from home and less time for the two of us together.  We see each other for brief periods in the early morning (assuming I'm awake; I'm often just rolling out the bed as he is walking out the door) and in the evening when we switch cars and kids and once again head our separate ways.  As I contemplate the prospect of returning to work, it has brought home the costs and benefits of working the opposite shift of your partner.  Returning to full-time day work next year is not in the cards for me as the cost of child care for Andrew would eat up much of my earnings, but the prospect of a another year of working opposite Ben's schedule is not appealing.  Then again, a Zits cartoon published two weeks ago Sunday summarize it best, "The days are long, but the years are short."  It is time once again to get my priorities in order and make the best decision I can for our family.  After all, the only thing that is certain is that time will keep ticking.

Sleepless in Milwaukee

It's 11 PM.  Shadow the cat and the rhythmic thump of the dishwasher are my late night companions.  Outside a fresh layer of snow covers up all the ugliness and makes the world look fresh and welcoming.  In spite of the political turmoil underlying our daily lives it has been a good weekend so far.  Family and then friends joined us for two nights in a row of tasty dinners and good conversation.  The boys have illuminated our lives with their silly antics and unconditional love.

I am avoiding heading to bed; my pre-sleep thoughts linger on finances, changes coming to our lives, and things to be done.  I am not one to let things go easily and am struggling to find a way to quell my worries.  I ruminate on all the possibilities and in the end seem to accomplish little.  So tonight I type, ramble, with Shadow resting his warm furry head on my arm.

When I was younger, my good friend Lucy told me about how her family makes a wish when 11:11 appears on the clock.  So since third grade I have been making my wish whenever I happen upon 11:11.  Tonight I shall wait for 11:11 to roll onto the clock face once more and make my wish.  What will your wish be?

News Junkie

So I have become a news junkie, squandering many hours on the internet reading up on the political situation in Wisconsin.  I devotedly check the Journal Sentinel online for updates from the Capitol, listen to Wisconsin Public Radio in the car, and have local news casts droning in the background of my life.  It is addicting and disheartening all at the same time.

I was already disillusioned with politics to begin with but now I can surely hear the great forefathers of these United States rolling in their graves.  Perhaps in a truly American fashion, we have taken our two-party political system to levels of previously unseen division.  We have lost the ability to find middle ground; instead, one party or the other steadfastly holds their position and throws mud until they get their way.  People are asked to choose sides, moderation be damned.

It is my hope that my children's generation will look upon these years with scrutinizing eyes.  May they recognize that when both sides give a little, more people benefit.   It is not about who's right but rather what is best for any given situation.   May they understand that things do not need to be categorized into either black or white; it is okay to accept a little gray in one's life.  Most of all may they recognize that we were human and we made mistakes; may they forgive us for our decisions that so greatly affected their lives.

And the news coverage drones on - Chaos at the Capitol.  No one is winning and ultimately everyone will lose.

Politics, politics, politics

I have a need to vent about what is happening here in Wisconsin.  I have an overwhelming desire to start looking into moving out of my beloved cheesehead country only to face the reality that the grass is not greener on the other side.  At a time when families, cities, states and nations are in a financial crisis it seems the distance between the democrats and republicans continue to widen leaving behind a mess in the middle.  I fear for my children's future.  I fear for my family's future.  I hope we can rise to meet the challenges in front of us; ultimately we have no choice but to try our best.

Luckily, it seems my kids are blissfully unaware of what is occurring around them.  They know their dad went to Madison on Friday because he does not agree with what Governor Walker wants.  They know there are protests but they have no idea that their life will be changing.  Do I even attempt to explain?  For now ignorance is bliss.

I've called my legislators and emailed my governor.  I've posted things I feel are relevant on Facebook and I have been praying a lot.  So I sign off with the hope that their will be light at the end of this tunnel and that my children will make it through relatively unscathed.

A Little Piece of Heaven

There are times when I feel truly blessed and all seems right in the world.  I try to take a mental snapshot of these moments so that I may carry the memory with me for all eternity.  Yesterday afternoon was one of those beautiful moments in life and I'm going to share a bit of it with you.

Our backyard has become our own little paradise complete with the swings, sandbox, fort, pool, patio, and hammock.  Perfect place to enjoy all that Wisconsin summer has to offer...our own stay-cation headquarters.  Mother Nature cooperated beautifully yesterday providing Milwaukee with 80 degree temperatures, a sunny sky, and a gentle breeze that made reading in the hammock in the shade ideal.  In really couldn't get any better.

In all fairness to Ben, I was hesitant to get a pool but it has become a treasure.  The boys romp for hours in the water alternating between swimming their hearts out and playing baby seal and trainer.  Not to be left out, Ben often gets in on the action partaking in a gentle float in his Father's Day present.  I, too, join the fun at times but am a hold out for the 90 degree days to make the 60-something degree water feel a little more inviting.

Of course, Andrew soon joined the fun once he woke from his nap.  It seems a slide and kiddie pool make for wonderful entertainment for the two-year-old set.  We even had to refill the pool due the amount of water loss with splashing.

No summer fun would be complete without the appropriate summer time snacks - popsicles.  (Note the drips on the chest and the very sticky fingers...)

Indeed life can't get much better than this!  A little bit of perfection on a lazy summer afternoon.