At the risk of disclosing one of the best left wing blogs out there, I link to this article about what I believe to be one of the true problems with education. I am sure there are many who believe teachers ask for too much in the way of benefits and hide behind their union, but please consider

Talk to teachers that have been around awhile or retired and they will affirm. It's not so much about teaching anymore.

And our county's survival depends on education of our and our non-white immigrants offspring. Founding fathers knew this but we seem to have lost this basic truth. So lets just bitch at what teachers make without working for a solution as we continue to slip in education worldwide.

2 words: administrative bloat. see my recent D87 tread on curriculum. THREE new administrators (one asst. super. of instruction, at least 2 new asst. principals of instruction) come into our district and schools and want to make serious changes to the curriculum which will actually sever FEWER students (more AP, less honors.) they are brand new here, and don't know our culture, history, and what the parents want. and the teachers...can't do a thing.

Here is a fascinating look at a school in Maryland and the problems involved in raising "standards" by teaching to the test. We ask for "accountability" by way of testing instead of learning.

I had an amazing teacher at Glenbard West who taught a current events class...when asked his opinion during a discussion he answered, "I'm not here to teach you WHAT to think. I'm here to teach you HOW to think." That's teaching.

well...that's the class they want to eliminate. (see my D87 thread.) it's not just that it's honors history since l945...it's the caliber of teacher teaching the course. if it's working...let's break it.

THAT was a fantabulous editorial! It's the "dark side" of teaching that so many (administrators, parents, and students alike) ignore.

Teachers have ALWAYS been deserving of respect, even the BD kids knew that when I was in school! The amount of patience it takes to teach, especially in a class of 30 or more students with only one or two who don't want to learn, blows my mind. I KNOW I could never do it, probably not even to an adult-learning class.

Hats off to teachers and thanks RMK for bringing this up. I hope we (as a community) do all that we can to assist our teachers in educating our children....and making the difference that the blog author speaks of.