Will Wisconsin, teachers union have smarts to act in kids' interest?

Alan Borsuk:

Who loves the baby?

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett asked that at a forum of civic leaders last week.

In the biblical story, two women claiming to be the mother of the same baby take their dispute to King Solomon. He calls for a sword so he can split the baby in two and give each woman half. One woman tells him to go ahead. The second tells him to give the baby to the first so the child can live. Solomon, of course, awards the baby immediately to the second. A true mother would sacrifice just about anything, even maternal rights, to let her child live.

What does this have to do with the next couple of years for students in Milwaukee Public Schools?

This: If people act with wisdom, maturity and a willingness to sacrifice for the good of kids, there could be significant relief from cuts that will negatively affect just about all 75,000-plus students. The list could start with easing the looming big jumps in average class size.

The sacrifice part would fall largely on MPS teachers. But it would put them in line with what is almost surely going to happen to the large majority of teachers across the state.

The wisdom part would have to start with Gov. Scott Walker and Republican legislative leaders. Willingness to budge on ideological points hasn't been one of their most visible traits in recent months.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at May 22, 2011 2:17 AM
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