Tuesday's "When Reform Touches Teachers" conversation between AFT President Randi Weingarten and AEI's Rick Hess took a look at some of the most contested topics in education today. We'll be breaking down their back-and-forth on a variety of issues over the next two days, starting with the recent controversy in Wisconsin.
The Badger State was the site of fierce conflict this spring, pitting Republicans, led by Governor Scott Walker, against Democratic state lawmakers and their union allies over limiting collective bargaining rights. Protestors swarmed the state capital and some Democratic state senators fled the state to stall legislation. A few recall elections and court decisions later, Walker seems to have won the first round, but questions linger over who was responsible for the dispute and the often negative tone it assumed.
Rick and Randi both condemned demagoguery, but split over who was responsible. An excerpt of their discussion follows, but feel free to check out their entire conversation.