We have a critique

Last post, I mentioned a couple of reasons for the recent dearth of commentary here. Another was the lack of responses. Real blogs have people agreeing, arguing, and accusing the blogger of being an arch-villain. In the category of be careful what you wish for, tonight I received responses to a couple of fairly ancient posts (September 10 and August 15). Unfortunately, Anonymous won't set any standards for either civil discourse or reasoned argumentation. He or she does make a couple of interesting points, however:

• He or she argues that the insurance deal I discussed saved MPS $17 million. This would be major news, if true. $17 million is the sort of money that would have a significant impact on the perennial budget shortfall. Since I played a crucial role in pushing MTEA and the MPS administration to keep working on this deal, I would add it to my resume, if I believed it. Unfortunately, I don't believe it. If it were true, I believe both the MPS administration and the MTEA would be broadcasting the good news about cooperation. And under the deal, the teachers would get a part of this savings. At a time when good news about MPS is sorely lacking I find it hard that news of this sort would be buried.
  
• In the other post I commented on an exchange between a retired teacher arguing that MPS teachers are underpaid (but actually talking more about working conditions) and a current teacher taking the risky position that they are not. I expressed some concern about the latter's relations with his colleagues. Anonymous adds to those concerns by saying he or she works with that teacher and then proceeding to disparage him. Perhaps in person Anonymous is both charming and tolerant of disagreement, but based on Anonymous's anonymous comments, I don't envy that teacher.
  

Can MPS close schools?

I have been very negligent about postings on this blog, mainly because I have been involved in other things, like work, starting a new on-line journal (first article received and out for review), and starting a website devoted to Wisconsin bicycle routes. (Talk about lack of focus!) But mainly, I think, it is because I have become increasingly pessimistic about the future of education in Milwaukee.

Part of the reason for this pessimism is underlined by an article in this morning's Journal-Sentinel, "MPS panel holds off on closing several schools." According to this article, directors Blewett, Morales, and Balistreri voted to defer any decision on closing low-enrollment schools until a "community needs" analysis can be done. This decision--or lack of decision really--is symptomatic of the inability of the board majority to make hard decisions, the kind of decisions that will rile a vocal minority but help the system as a whole. Transferring resources from more popular schools to the low-enrollment schools will only make it more difficult for all schools to operate and accelerate the downward spiral.

Theoretically, it is possible that a couple of good things could come out of this:

1. With the threat of imminent closure, perhaps some of the schools will figure out what parents are looking for in schools (it is ironic, I think, that even choice schools with quite inept management seem able to figure out how to attract students).
2. Perhaps they will develop an economic model for a small enrollment school, recognizing that such a school will have to concentrate on doing a few things well, and not try to be all things to all families.

But first MPS schools will have to shake off their debilitating culture that expects someone else to rescue them and the MPS board will have to get over its reluctance to make hard decisions.