In the Monona/Cottage Grove area,while we are a decent size community and many people read www.madison.com for their print/online newspaper, we have a respectable weekly local newspaper/website The Herald Independent. In THI, there is ONE weekly columnist, former WSJ editorial writer Sunny Schubert . I have been reading Sunny’s column now for 6+ years and while I disagree with her often, and find her “research” rather careless for an ex editor, her column is usually somewhat interesting.
It was much to my surprise when I came across sloppily written column by none other than Sunny Schubert, for the \”non-partisan\” Wisconsin Policy Research Institute. In her column she is talking about a “young friend” who is a new teacher and wears a tie to work. This poor fellow gets “terrorized” by his fellow teachers because they do NOT wear ties. Sunny then uses this “story” and ties it to the local story about Glendale elementary and the principal-teacher conflict. This of course is her opportunity to take her turn leading the Amen choir and echo chamber in bashing the latest bogeyman, the Wisconsin Teachers Unions.
I am not going to get into the ridiculousness of Sunny’s column but in her lack of journalistic ethics in not disclosing that she also writes for (not sure if they pay her) a far right wing “think tank” that has the objective to rid the state and the schools of unions.
This is especially relevant because times are tight in the Monona Grove school district and teacher negotiations have sometimes been contentious. Sunny’s columns do have some sway and she has not been scared to write about the local schools (here, here and here, among many others). Never once mentioning her affiliation with WPRI.
I would expect more from an editor of a major paper. Which leads me to the questions, What does she have to hide? Why should we take her seriously anymore?
Sunny Schubert has been known to be a stranger to fact when she editorializes, as was the case when she wrote edits for the State Journal. She was a pretty damned good reporter, once upon a time. A shame she forgot how to do it.
The WPRI is everywhere. They have done a very impressive job of getting their people all over the media or of signing up people in the media to their cause. It’s impressive really…
It is impressive, I just think they should disclose that fact.
What fact? Sunny writes opinion. She is no more required to add “I also write for WPRI” than John Nichols is required to write “I wrote this first for The Nation magazine.” btw: The Nation is an habitual apologist for the teachers union. Also, I note that no one is disputing Sunny’s facts.
The point was not the content of her article it was that she has the lone public forum in the Monona Grove School District and she has not disclosed that her goal is to rid the schools of union and not whats in the best interests of the schools and the kids.
Since you mentioned it though lets look at Sunny’s “facts”
* Zach’s students had never seen a teacher wear a tie before? really did she fact check this? speak to any other teachers? the administration? students?
* The teachers union was behind all of the ties in his room? Again did she get another opinion/perspective on this? Is there proof it was the other teachers? I know no high school kids would EVER pull a prank. Think maybe there is more to the story?
* “I know they thought they were being funny,” Zach said, “but let me tell you, some of these teachers wouldn’t stay 30 seconds later than the contract demands, but they somehow found the time to trash my room. And I wasn’t crazy about the message they were giving to my kids, that it’s OK to disrespect a teacher.” _ so not a single teacher in the school but poor zach is willing to go over and above their stated contract? he knows this how? Do you think maybe speaking to other teachers would maybe bring some more light on the subject? or would that ruin her anti union hard right slant?
Again, you have not disproved a single of Sunny’s facts. She has not disclosed her “goal” of ridding the district of the teachers union? Perhaps that is a future column. At least she has disclosed her full name, which is something that you, Jeff, are not man enough to do. I also demand to know whether your hidden goal is to support the teachers union come what may, despite the best interests of the students, parents, and taxpayers.
What is there to disprove? She told some ridiculous anecdotal story about how teachers are such meanies and acted like it should mean something. But in the interest of fairness, it might nice to show the influence the WPRI has over the media.
Why do you all think it is that Sunny no longer works for the WSJ? Could it be that she just wasn’t good at her job? It’s like Susan Lampert Smith. Remember her? She wrote a really stupid column on how parents didn’t like the idea of consolidating Lapham and Marquette and soon after was “let go.” Sunny is writing what is supposed to be a fun column about local characters at the Herald. She writes fluff pieces. This column she wrote for WPRI was preaching to the choir. If you wrote to the Herald and critisized her that would probably be the end of her column. They are not looking for controversy.
WHAT IS THE MATTER with you? You would want to get a woman fired for no reason because she’s not a leftwing-approved writer? What empty, petty people. Do you really HATE that much that you can’t tolerate a little puffy column in a weekly paper if its written by a conservative? That makes you feel good?
Snow- no one wants her fired, but I think she has been unethical in using her “little puffy column” to fire on teachers and their unions. In the Monona Grove school district she is really the only one with a forum and she has been using it. This is an important time in the district and going to be even more so as the republican legislature continues to cut education funding.
I think she needs to come clean about her associations if she wants to continue to try and steer the debate.
By the way…I never accused her of being a conservative. Nor did anywhere do you see that she has to be approved – all i am calling for is honesty.
Let’s start with you, Jeff. Come clean about your associations. We don’t even have your last name.
Snowdog, angry much? As Jeff said, no one wants Ms. Sherbert fired; everyone loves frozen desserts after all. Unfortunately, the shrinking group of right-wing goofballs that make Monona their home still have a disproportionally large voice, helped by the Herald.
Hark the Herald Newspapers Sing, “Glory to the New Right Wing”……
Jeff, pay no mind to Blaska. He writes stuff like this because it’s the only way he can get people to respond to him:
“At least she has disclosed her full name, which is something that you, Jeff, are not man enough to do.”
“Let’s start with you, Jeff. Come clean about your associations. We don’t even have your last name.”
To Jeff,
I suggest that you write a letter to the Editor of the Herald telling them how you feel about Sunny’s column. I know it can be risky, and perhaps you are a teacher and can’t do this, but I think you may find that many people are tired of one voice representing Monona/Cottage Grove. Perhaps a letter to the Editor will allow other viewpoints. As for Sunny, I don’t think it would be a bad thing if she were given a little competition for a weekly column in the Herald. Competition is good. It’s the American way. If she loses her job, it will not be the end of her career – obviously she has a place on the WPRI blog.
I sent a message to the Herald-Independent asking if they had a policy.
I mean, a paper has to pick and choose who writes for them, and if Sunny has a popular column, well then I can’t blame them for running the column. In the end, that’s their choice based on what they think is best for the paper.
However, in the interest of fairness, it might be a nice thing to disclose to readers.
“Jeff” could write a letter to the editor. But he’d have to sign his name to it. Something he is unwilling to do here. Funny, that, for a guy who claims to want full disclosure. “Jeff” might also want to indicate whether he is a unionized teacher, state employee, Prog Dane or whatever — only in the interest of fairness. Or is that for other people?
Sorry Dave I’m married!
If Jeff is a teacher, I hope he’s not teaching reading. I didn’t said Zach’s students had “never” (quotes by Jeff) wear a tie before. I did not say that the teacher’s union was behind the tie prank. I did not say they were high school kids, I said they were middle school kids. I did not say that “not a single teacher” in Zach’s school was willing to work more than their contract required. However, I do believe that teachers unions are the single biggest impediment to improving our school system. Also, I was not fired from the State Journal — I reired. Susan Lampert Smith was not fired — she got a better-paying job at the UW. LOTS of people have left the WSJ in recent years, most voluntarily. Many got buy-outs. How about learning to read, Jeff?
Sunny Schubert said “I do believe that teachers unions are the single biggest impediment to improving our school system.”
I wholeheartedly agree. Unions are resistant to change unless the change results in better benefits and more money for them. The fact that a bad teacher cannot realistically be fired and that a good teacher with low seniority can be let go at the drop of a hat is troubling at best. The fact that union membership is forced upon unwilling employees in this state is also troubling.
As each day passes, I feel the United States is sliding downhill in terms of quality of education. Many are to blame: money is not properly allocated by officials for building maintenance, too many school administrators are incompetent and overpaid, unions resist change unless something is in it for them, parents play a passive role in their child’s education, etc.
If this keeps up, it’s just a matter of time before it’s clear to all other world powers that the US is not properly educating its children. I think this is already clear to some.
Sunny,
Right back at you. Your taking this to personal but let me answer a few things.
“This was a source of amusement for some of his students, who had apparently never seen a teacher wearing a tie before.”
Does this not lead the reader to believe that Zach is the ONLY person who wears a tie in the school?
“I know they thought they were being funny,” Zach said, “but let me tell you, some of these teachers wouldn’t stay 30 seconds later than the contract demands, but they somehow found the time to trash my room. And I wasn’t crazy about the message they were giving to my kids, that it’s OK to disrespect a teacher.”
Ok so its “Not a single teacher” it just implies that no one works as hard as poor zach. Can we have names? does he know this for a fact? Or is Zach just super teacher compared to everyone else?
The other stuff I didnt say so i wont speak to that.
You can think, however wrongly, that teachers unions are the “single biggest impediment” to improving our schools(its not poverty, divorce rates, lack of money, homelessness, poor condition of our schools or poor pay, but thats another post). I get that democracy in action(which is what unions are) is always a problem for the right wing.
Truly I enjoy your column for the most part and read it every week. I just think you should have to come clean that you also write(and/or are employed by) the right wing anti -union WPRI, when you are addressing issues that have to do with the Monona Grove Schools. That is all.
Steve, while it really does not pertain to this topic, you are wrong on Unions. Unions are pure democracy in action.
It is ABSOLUTELY not impossible to fire a “bad” teacher(by the way can you define bad teacher for me please?), you just have to do it the correct way. That falls on administration to follow the rules and do it right and they can fire someone. It does however allow someone to keep from being fired for no reason or without just cause. No administration not liking you is not just cause.
No where is Union membership “forced upon unwilling employees”, you know going in that you will be part of the union when you become a teacher.
If you do not like the fact that they will protect you if you need it, or the fact that they have bargained for your salary and benefits or the fact that union states have higher wages on average than non union states, then get into a non-union profession. I hear Massey Energy is hiring! But again, thats another topic.
Jeff, I’m afraid unions are not democracy in action. For example, unions are trying to force UW employees into their folds without allowing UW employees to vote on the issue. How is that democracy in action?
Union membership is certainly forced on unwilling employees. It happens all the time in this state and many others. “You want this job? You have to join the union. Don’t want to join the union? Too bad, you still have to pay a monthly fee to the union.” Again, how is that democracy in action?
I am currently in a non-union position, and it’s great. I was once in a union position and I hated it. The union was utterly useless, and I felt like I was paying taxes to them in the form of dues. Luckily, I had the option to get out of that union and still keep my job.
If you want to see democracy in action, let employees choose whether or not they want to be represented.
I agree Steve thats why we so desperately need EFCA(but again another topic).
Unions are democracy in action, because its a collective group of people getting together and speaking as one voice. If your part of the union and dont like the way its representing you get active. its great that your in a non-union position and like it, but you can bet that the possibility of a union going into your position helps keep your wages and benefits higher.
You can opt out by not working there or picking a different job. When the majority of people elect to have a union then everyone must pay. Its similar to our government. Paul ryan continually props up wall st at the expense of his district, can we “opt out” of that?
Jeff – A person shouldn’t have to pass on a job opportunity because it’s union only. It’s not OK for labor unions to represent all people in their work. It’s not OK for labor unions to force people into unions and to forcibly extract money from a person. I can’t think of anything more undemocratic than that, but we’ll just have to agree to disagree.
Dear Steve,
Perhaps unions aren’t perfect but if you look at history, unions have done a lot to improve the workers situation in the world. I guess you just need to look at the pros and cons of union membership. I pay about $20 a month but I willingly pay that for greivance support (I haven’t needed it) and uniform wages and benefits for the same job.
Bad teachers, eh? If one were in Oklahoma, a “bad” teacher may be one who refuses to discuss the idiocy of creationism in science class. In West Bend, a “bad” teacher could be one that doesn’t worship the dollar like most of the repugs that live there. And in Monona, a “bad” teacher could be one that doesn’t cowtow to the elite repugs that live on the lake (but also vote for morons that gut clean water protections).
So, “bad” really is in the eye of the beholder, isn’t it?
The teacher bashing that Sunni and her right-wing ilk resort to when they need to scapegoat should be expected and laughed at. Sure there are problems with some teachers, just like in any other field. Its just that when it comes to low achievers like so many of the repugs, their teacher bashing stems from their poor performance in school.
And as for Sunni’s column, its better than the idiotic prattle that passed for commentary by the busybody of Monona that used to scribble out childish rantings and other garbage in the Herald.
Actually Crack, check this out:
http://bloggingblue.com/2011/02/04/walk-with-dinosaurs/#comment-60339
And you see there is no difference between West Bend and Oklahoma(but again a different subject).
I have not lived here long enough to know who wrote before sunny.
Hi Katrina,
I agree that unions improved working conditions long ago, but this doesn’t give them a free pass to force union membership and dues on unwilling employees. I think employees should always have a choice, but union leadership has Wisconsin locked down.
IN case anyone missed it: blaska showed us some love –
http://www.thedailypage.com/blaska/article.php?article=32151
Nice. Forward Lookout just gained some readers. Thanks, Mr. Blaska.
Steve,
I don’t really know what you mean when you say “union leadership has Wisconsin locked down.” Please clarify.
Yes unions have improved working conditions and wage fairness. Has corporate culture changed? It seems to me that shareholders are demanding more profits. To get those profits, workers are being asked for wage and benefit consessions. To me it looks like a race to the bottom meaning low wages and no benefits. The question is, do we abandon unions because we think we have it good now or do we strengthen unions in an attempt to preserve the middle class? I choose to preserve what we have if possible. That means belonging to and being active in my union. Not everyone feels that way, as you say. The truth is though, those who are employed in a union shop are there because they like something – either the job conditions, the pay or the benefits. Those things are negotiated by their unions and supported by fees. If wages, benefits and conditions were better elsewhere, those people who dislike union dues would take jobs where there is no union.
Katrina,
I think the public employee unions are too strong in Wisconsin. Generally speaking, they are too expensive to taxpayers in terms of salary and benefits, and elected officials tow the line when it comes to salary and benefits. We can’t afford to continue like this. I have looked at salary/benefits data for public sector unions in the same industry I work in, so I have formed my opinion partially based on this.
I don’t think we should abandon private sector unions, but I think workers should be given a choice as to whether or not they want to join a union. Currently, they are not allowed that choice without the entire union voting to disband, and I don’t think that’s fair. You mentioned that if a worker doesn’t want to join the union, he/she can work somewhere else – but that too isn’t fair. The union is blocking people out. What gives them the right to do that?
I don’t deny unions play a role in shaping working conditions, but unions don’t speak for all of the middle class.
Steve,
Here is why we need unions!
http://networkedblogs.com/e2MfN
Thats democracy Steve. Do you think the current batch of republicans running the state speak for all of WI? NO but they won so they get to. If 90% of a company is unionized and 10% of you are doing the same job and not paying union dues, the union will still help you tremendously you will just be getting a free ride..
Steve,
The unions created the middle class. And as for the public employee unions being too strong, what a joke. I have been a member of a public employee union for 20 years. The offer that OSER brings to the table is what we get. Negotiation centers around how benefits are provided – not the cost. Any salary increase is controled in the budget, by the governor who has line item veto power. The only strength we have is what our dues provide – grievance assistance and negotiation of lay off rules. For the past 8 years we have taken pay cuts and increases in the costs of benefits. We are not allowed to strike.
Jeff,
There’s no guarantee whatsoever that the “union will still help you tremendously.” In fact, it is quite possible that the union will hinder your professional development in a number of ways, too many to go into here.
“That’s democracy Steve” – I think you meant to say “That’s autocracy Steve.” Forced-unionism principles are more closely aligned with communism than democracy.
Katrina – I accept that the unions “created the middle class.” This does not mean non-union folks such as myself need to eternally bow down and worship them.
Non-union state employees were also subject to the 3% paycut in each of the past two years, and non-union state employees will also be subject to the likely 3-10% paycut (furlough) Walker will soon announce. If Walker’s aim is to “go after the state unions” – the non-union state workers also suffer, and they didn’t have anything to do with the union in the first place.
Steve,
Did you really think I didn’t know that nonrepresented state employees suffered the same wage and benefit cuts union workers took? They had to take cuts sooner because the state didn’t have to wait for contracts to expire. That seems like an argument for joining a union to me.
http://heraldindependentonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=127&ArticleID=2229
Sunny addressed this issue in her column this week, I just wanted to correct a few things.
* WPRI – http://www.wpri.org/ check out the commentators and you see Charlie Sykes first and foremost…hardly a bipartisan group.
* In terms of “not getting facts straight” – as the saying goes, you are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. I believe I called her out on her WPRI column as being sloppily written and i stand by that.
* “the exchange of comments descended…” I agree completely, once Blaska started commenting about things that had nothing to do with the original topic, then things did descend quickly.
* I guess it only seems like I have been starting LTE regarding her wild claims but decided not to finish them for 6 + years!
One last thing. The ORIGINAL point of this post was – She should identify herself as working for WPRI, when writing about the school system. That is all – for example check out her WPRI colleague in the ISTHMUS.
http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=32183&sid=513e7bbf45c3fa280f0fdacf2964438d
That was simple!
Who do you work for, Jeff? You won’t even give us your last name.
Goodness. Now Sunny is claiming there is a conspiracy to get rid of her? Really? I was just suggesting that Jeff let the paper know how he felt and that a little competition might improve the paper. No conspiracy, just an anonymous blogger wondering why someone would write a silly piece like the one Sunny wrote for WPRI.
* “the exchange of comments descended…” I agree completely, once Blaska started commenting about things that had nothing to do with the original topic, then things did descend quickly.
You ask of Sunny what you are not willing to do yourself. (Are you a teachers union automaton?) Less, actually, since you won’t even give your last name. That’s not off-topic, “Jeff” (if that is your name). That IS the topic.
This is what brings it off the original topic. It has nothing to do with me. The point of the original post was that Sunny has THE LONE VOICE in the Monona Grove School district, so when she writes bashing teachers unions, she should have disclosed that she was part of WPRI. Its that simple.
As I pointed out above your friend Christian Schneider does in your own weekly.
If I was paid for my work, I would disclose but alas I am not. Besides Sunny did disclose it in her column this week so this story is closed. Even if she did seriously temper down who she writes with. I can’t say I blame her, I would not want people to know I worked with Charlie Sykes either.