SHORT TAKES : Cosby Drops Children’s Mural From Show in Flap Over Credit

Bill Cosby has dropped a colorful mural shown during the opening credits of “The Cosby Show” in a dispute with a teacher whose Harlem students inspired the artwork.

The dispute involves a mural painted on a Harlem building by students at the Creative Arts Workshop for Homeless Children, and a similar painting shown on the top-rated NBC series.

The workshop’s director, Brookie Maxwell, said the children who painted the original, “Street of Dreams,” should get credit on the TV show and be paid if the idea is marketed.

“I’ve ordered it taken off the show. It has nothing to do with the kids. Has to do with this woman, who is trying to hold us up,” Cosby said Tuesday.

“It’s the principle of the thing,” said Cosby, the highest-paid entertainer in the world.

NBC spokeswoman Rosemary O’Brien said three weeks of negotiations between the workshop and the show’s producer, Carsey-Werner Co., had failed.

“All we wanted was credit for the children,” said Vivian Pollack, a lawyer for the workshop. “At no time did we make any specific financial demands, nor until last night did Cosby or Carsey-Werner offer any financial settlement.”