Republican behind student discipline bill takes on critics

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The author of a Republican bill that would allow teachers to demand that violent students be suspended and require administrators to report violent students to the police responded to criticism of the legislation Thursday, saying he thinks school administrators are being too soft on troublemakers.

Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt led off the public hearing on the bill before the Assembly Judiciary Committee. He acknowledged that it has generated intense opposition — 16 groups have registered against the measure with no groups in support — but he said he thinks teachers find themselves in physical danger too often and something has to be done.