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