Now that Gov. Scott Walker’s major cuts for public schools have been enacted, my question for my fellow educators is: What do we do next? writes Nick Zweifel at The Cap Times.

Zweifel is a math teacher at DeForest High School.

“I am sick and tired of constantly reacting to bad news and bad policy and always being in the position of having to play defense. Educators and school districts should organize to go on the offensive.”

Walker’s budget has significantly damaged one of the best public education systems in the country, writes Zweifel.

The math teacher argues that Walker has turned half of the community members against teachers using false information, and now teachers will have to fight a public relations battle while also working harder to educate students with fewer resources.

“Through all of this, we Wisconsin educators will still stand tall and deliver a top-notch education for the children of this state, regardless of what Walker has done, because that is what Wisconsin professional educators do.”

Zweifel believes that all school boards should attach Walker’s name to every program cut, teacher layoff, raised fee, and class size increase and make sure that these statements are in articles in their local papers.

“There should be a specific reference to Walker’s budget in a press release after every school board meeting.”

Parent groups at every level of education should be formed, and meet once a month with administrators and educators to talk about budget challenges and new strategies to cope.

“These parents are the messengers who communicate to our neighborhoods.”

Zweifel claims that Walker has diminished public education in Wisconsin and “his budget will be extremely difficult to navigate and overcome.”

“I know that Wisconsin educators will overcome these obstacles and deliver quality education to the students of this state. What would be tragic is for Walker to get credit for our success. We shouldn’t let that happen.”

This comes in the wake of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s explosive proposal to take nearly all collective bargaining rights away from most public workers has been enacted, writes Scott Bauer at the Huffington Post.

Walker has confirmed he will propose cutting education aid by about $900 million, or 9 percent statewide.

“All of this turmoil, all of this chaos, are examples that Walker’s proposals are too extreme,” said Mary Bell, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council. She said more than 2,000 teachers had received nonrenewal notices as of Monday.