Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard is in a face-off with the Rochester Teachers Association.

Brizard was hired to punch up the city's dismal graduation rate and he's already making some progress. But Brizard knows that unless he can keep students in school, increase attendance, and build a new culture that places a greater value on education, the increase in graduation rates will stall.

Students have to be in school, but at what price to teachers and fellow classmates?

Many teachers are feeling the pressure of having so many students with behavior problems. One idea being passed around among some board members is that in-house suspensions have forced teachers "to deal with these kids." It's a rather simplistic notion that assumes teachers would rather not teach.

The other idea, that teachers are afraid of their African-American students, flies in the face of how many students and teachers develop meaningful bonds over a love of learning.

There's no payoff to having so many kids sent home to hang out on the street. No one argues with that.

But asking teachers to referee fights and cope with daily threats of violence isn't right, either.

And when teachers spend 25 minutes out of a 45-minute class managing disruptive behavior, what's in it for students who don't misbehave - who are attending school and striving to achieve?

If Brizard has any hope of substantially increasing the district's graduation rate, he has got to get in front of parents and win their trust on this issue.

He has got to ignite a public conversation about why so many students have behavioral issues.

Education is the only way to break the cycle of poverty that has such a stranglehold on Rochester's inner city. If Brizard can engage more parents and reverse this trend, he could have a lasting impact on this city.

But time may be running out. With the state facing steep budget cuts, even education is on the cutting board.

And public empathy and generosity for students who don't stay in - regardless of their circumstances - could dry up.

The school of hard knocks always has seats to fill.