Fraud hurts teachers’ claims

Wisconsin school teachers are much more concerned about the money they make than the education they could actually give — so much so that they’re willing to basically commit fraud.

The world has seen video of the teachers skipping school to attend protests against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to rein in the state’s multi-billion dollar budget deficit.

Some videos also show doctors at the demonstrations handing out fake medical excuses to allow teachers to have paid “sick days” while the protests went on.

Those doctors who were caught tried to justify their actions, an article by CBS News said.

“Some people think it’s a nod-and-a-wink thing, but it’s not,” Dr. Lou Sanner of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health told The Associated Press. “One of the biggest stresses in life is the threat of loss of income, loss of job, loss of health insurance. People have actually been getting ill from this, or they can’t sleep.”

Sanner admitted to writing hundreds of medical-absence excuses.

It’s great to see anyone stand up for what they believe in — especially when this is how our country came about.

But as with anything, there is a way to stand up for what’s right and wrong without having to go as far as committing fraud or creating any illegal issues for yourself.

Doctors had no reason to show up to the protest and hand out excuses. If stress was making a teacher physically sick, then one can take the time to go to the doctor, be examined and treated properly.

The teachers also asked students to participate in their protests by walk-outs. Some videos show that some of the students weren’t informed enough and didn’t understand why they were protesting.

It’s the students’ choice to participate, but if teachers are going to ask, they should educate their students thoroughly. Instead, teachers enabled students to skip school for reasons unknown to them. Thanks for the irony and missing an essential step to teaching others to stand up for right and wrong.

Teachers are supposed to be respected role models for students. That stereotype will always be there.

One doesn’t have to commit a crime to teach others to fight for what they believe in.