Tell me again why Wisconsin teachers are so well paid?

This is what well-paid, unionized teachers have brought to our schools. Via CNS:

Two-thirds of the eighth graders in Wisconsin public schools cannot read proficiently according to the U.S. Department of Education, despite the fact that Wisconsin spends more per pupil in its public schools than any other state in the Midwest.

In the National Assessment of Educational Progress tests administered by the U.S. Department of Education in 2009—the latest year available—only 32 percent of Wisconsin public-school eighth graders earned a “proficient” rating while another 2 percent earned an “advanced” rating. The other 66 percent of Wisconsin public-school eighth graders earned ratings below “proficient,” including 44 percent who earned a rating of “basic” and 22 percent who earned a rating of “below basic.”

Why are teachers so tied to the unions? Because they would be fired for poor performance otherwise.

UPDATE: A “Featured Blog” at P&P. Thanks!

UPDATE: linked by Pundette here. Thanks!