The irony of Obama’s ‘help’ for Wisconsin teachers
By Valerie Strauss
For two years, President Obama has been pushing school reform that has demonized public school teachers. Now he has injected himself on the side of teachers into the confrontation in Wisconsin, where the new Republican governor is trying to pass emergency legislation that would drastically cut collective bargaining rights.
Obama’s support is ironic, given that teachers’ collective bargaining rights have already been undermined by his education reform policies.
Obama, a few days ago, threw his political machine onto the side of teachers who are helping to lead a protest movement in Wisconsin over Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to cut benefits and take away collective bargaining rights from labor. Madison public schools have been closed