| Teaching in the Milwaukee Schools is not | | | | schools. Many feel that the Milwaukee |
| all that some think it will be. Young | | | | Schools are filled with bad influences |
| teachers there have one of the highest | | | | and the neighborhoods are filled with |
| turnover rates in the nation. According | | | | crime. So, these teachers from Milwaukee |
| to some in the Milwaukee Schools, there | | | | Schools move on to other districts in |
| are several reasons for this rate. One | | | | the suburbs, and some on to other |
| of the main reasons for this high rate | | | | careers. Other teachers from Milwaukee |
| within the Milwaukee Schools is the | | | | Schools cited frustrations more directly |
| residency rule. Milwaukee Schools | | | | related to schools and classrooms as the |
| require that teachers reside within the | | | | main reason they moved on. One first |
| city. At first, for young teachers, this | | | | year teacher, a graduate of the |
| does not seem all that bad until they | | | | University of Wisconsin, tells about a |
| are actually living in the city and | | | | particularly bad year at one north side |
| cannot move. As they get married and | | | | school. She was hired to teach first |
| start families, many want to move to the | | | | grade, but also had some five-year-old |
| suburbs, but can't. Many teachers | | | | kindergarten students in her classroom. |
| sighted other frustrations with the | | | | She was not given her mentor until |
| Milwaukee Schools as their reason for | | | | January, and was given absolutely no |
| leaving. However, all agreed with the | | | | support from school administration. She |
| National Commission on Teaching report | | | | felt she had been left alone to sink or |
| that states that high turnover affects | | | | swim. And this is not an isolated |
| the overall education of our students. | | | | experience. That is not fair to the |
| Almost all said the story of the | | | | students of Milwaukee schools. Most |
| idealistic, eager, newcomer who doesn't | | | | first year teachers cite school |
| last very long in the job is far too | | | | leadership and the lack of support as a |
| familiar. Of the 50 largest school | | | | main source of either frustration. Some |
| districts in the US, only Milwaukee | | | | teachers in Milwaukee schools that are |
| Schools and Chicago Schools have this | | | | not properly administered say they spend |
| residency rule. It has long been a bone | | | | their entire day breaking up fights and |
| of contention with teachers, but always | | | | issuing discipline instead of teaching. |
| received strong support from | | | | It's hard to imagine how the Milwaukee |
| politicians. Young teachers get into the | | | | Schools can provide for their students, |
| Milwaukee Schools because they are | | | | when they still can't support their |
| anxious to start their careers but, | | | | teachers. |
| again, they begin starting families and | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for |
| realize they will be forced to live in | | | | Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth |
| the city and to send their children to | | | | reports on all U.S. public and private |
| those Milwaukee Schools unless they make | | | | K-12 schools. |
| other arrangements or pay for private | | | | |