Let’s make the law work for Milwaukee Public Schools
The Milwaukee Branch NAACP is asking the community to come together and support the implementation of the educational plan set forth in recent legislation passed by the Wisconsin legislature regarding the delivery of services for Milwaukee Public Schools.
The legislation is not a cure all, but represents a significant step forward. Under the legislation, the State Superintendent may order poor performing school districts – those districts shown to be in need of improvement for four consecutive years – to implement curriculum modifi cations, increase teacher development, offer parent education classes, and increase the school year or day.
The effort behind putting a plan in place has been long, painstaking and laborious It has also been very controversial. We sincerely hope that past mistakes will be forgiven and everyone will come together and support the plan. The plan has been passed by the people who have been elected to represent us and who have the best interests of school children in mind. We are encouraging parents, students, administrators to give the plan a chance to work. We the members of the Milwaukee Branch pledge our efforts to see to it that the plan is implemented fairly and equitably.
With that said, however, we are not thrilled that the efforts to come to this agreement were not inclusive of all people. State Representative Polly Williams, among others, have criticized supporters and sponsors for their lack of inclusiveness. Past successes demonstrate that we work best when we work together.
In closing, we once again urge legislators and education leaders to work together to implement viable measures to reduce class sizes to levels conducive to achieving educational excellence. We also sincerely hope everyone will offer encouragement and support to, Gregory Thornton, the new MPS Superintendent. When MPS succeeds, we all succeed.
Jerry Ann Hamilton,
President
