Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has never been known for high drama.

The genial, popular Barrett has run a steady-as-she-goes administration that has rarely created exciting political theater.

But the curtain may have gone up on a performance that has gotten some brutal reviews from critics.

Barrett's proposal for mayoral control of Milwaukee Public Schools, a proposal which would have the mayor choose the district superintendent and school board members, drew a largely negative response from an otherwise respectful crowd in a half-filled auditorium at a forum Thursday night at Riverside High School.

"I can't walk away from this," Barrett told the audience.

"What are we doing for the children of our schools?" he said. "Are we going to allow the status quo?"

Barrett introduced the proposal in August, but Thursday was the first time he spoke to a large crowd about the idea. He said mayoral control would allow the district to bring in a superintendent who could bring positive change to Milwaukee's schools.

But state Rep. Tamara Grigsby, D-Milwaukee, called the move a "superficial leadership change," adding that "there is no compelling evidence to show that a mayoral takeover will do anything to solve the problem."

Perhaps most troubling for Barrett is that his opponents have managed to frame the debate as "anti-democracy" and a "takeover." One piece of literature circulated at the forum even questioned whether Barrett's proposal was "a snub to leadership of color."

Calling Barrett an aspiring "education czar," opponents of the plan have used the kind of inflammatory language that could resonate with people who might otherwise not give much thought to education in the city.

Although Barrett has the backing of outgoing Gov. Jim Doyle and Department of Public Instruction Superintendant Tony Evers, it is not yet clear where needed support might come from in the Legislature. The issue is becoming a political "third rail." Like the electrified third rail on subway tracks, touching it can be hazardous.

Yet Barrett, who displayed passion while discussing the issue, insisted his proposal was the best way to save Milwaukee's schools.

Barrett pointed out that in recent years there have been seven different school board presidents "with seven different ideas" about how to solve the problems of the district. He cited New York as an example of a successful mayoral control.

Noting low voter turnout for school board elections, Barrett also said his proposal would create more accountability to parents and students of MPS. "We've got kids fighting for their lives and no one is being held accountable," he said.

Ironically, one of the quiet criticisms of Barrett is that he has not shown an ambitious agenda for the city. Now that he has picked a huge agenda item, he's being criticized for that, too. But now he has chosen to use his bully pulpit and considerable political capital to make a change in an area that most Milwaukee mayors, save possibly former mayor John Norquist, have avoided.

Critics notwithstanding, Barrett has got people talking about how to make MPS more successful at preparing Milwaukee's kids for the global economy.

And maybe that was the idea all along.