Wisconsin Teachers Retiring Enmasse Before Collecting Bargaining Limiting Bill takes Place. Maybe Scott Walker Can Fill In As A Substitute. That Way He'd At Least Be Earning His Money. God Knows How Much Damage He's Done To Wisconsin

Wisconsin Teacher Retirements Double After Cuts To Benefits And Collective Bargaining

In this Feb. 21, 2011 file photo, a sign that says "I support my teacher" hangs on a statue outside the state Capitol in Madison, Wis. Twice as many public school teachers decided to retire this year as in each of the past two years, the leading edge of a mass exodus of public employees who decided to hang it up rather than pay more for their health insurance and pension benefits as required under changes pushed by Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican Legislature. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps, File)

By SCOTT BAUER 08/31/11 12:01 PM ET

MADISON, Wis. -- When students return Thursday for the first day of school across Wisconsin, many familiar faces will be gone, as teachers chose retirement over coming back in the wake of a new law that forces them to pay more for benefits while taking away most of their collective bargaining rights.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press under the state's open records law show that about twice as many public school teachers decided to hang it up in the first half of this year as in each of the past two full years, part of a mass exit of public employees.
Their departures came before the new law took effect, changes pushed by Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican Legislature that led to weeks of protests at the Capitol.
The ensuing exodus of teachers and other state employees has led to fears that the jobs might not be filled, and that classroom leadership by veteran teachers will be lost.

Full Story Here:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/31/doubled-teacher-retiremen_n_943495.html