The Baraboo school system must deal with its pupils.
Never has a group of Wisconsin educators been faced with a more immediate and compelling task - - and one, if handled intelligently, could spread to other school districts and improve attitudes statewide.
Baraboo school officials should require every boy in that horrifying photo of all those smiling teens giving the Heil Hitler salute to be sent on a chaperoned trip, and fast, to the Holocaust Museum and World War II Memorial In Washington, DC.
No fun and games there, no side trips.
And no trip, no diploma. Then each boy has 24 hours upon his return to write a paper about what he learned and read it aloud to his parents who then must sign it and attest that they heard it before the paper is turned in over to the school principal.
No paper, no sharing with the parents, no re-admission to school until the assignment is complete.
No paper, no sharing with the parents, no re-admission to school until the assignment is complete.
For the students, it can be teachable moment that comes with some hope that expanded horizons can produce some learning that could stick with them for the rest of their lives.
