Yes, they DO deserve a raise. I am a die hard Conservative who has worked in a school. While the Union Leaders are Dem, many teachers are not. The Feds have not only created a huge number of families who live off the system and believe education is a waste of time - they require teachers to take the blame for students who refuse to learn, since they never plan on earning a paycheck. Add to that the fact that Federal rules now will punish or fire any teacher who so much as touches a student. If a student throws spitballs at the teacher they know there are no repercussions because, by Federal Law, they are entitled to an education to the age of 17 and cannot be expelled. Teachers are the ultimate victim of a Federal Government run amuck and receive the blame when “Johnny can’t read” even though Johnny never so much an opened a book.