[MEG33]

These are our children's "instructors"....Sad and frightening.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Indeed!

[lt.america]

I have heard that it goes without saying in the teaching community that they do it for their summers. The public line is that it is a calling, but I have seen otherwise.

I remember back about 18 years ago teachers where I am from went on strike, and when the school board began talking to the media about the negotiations it all boiled down to 5 additional days that were going to be added to the calender for the next year. When the public got wind of this people became almost irate and the teachers quickly abandoned their strike and went back to work. Absolutely ridiculous.

[kcat]

frightening was my first thought, then I remembered when my son who was a junior in high school came home a few months ago asking if I thought Iraq was becoming a new Vietnam. Gee, wonder where he got that thought. It opened up a great discussion. I pulled up number of troop deaths per day in Vietnam and compared them to Iraq. That was enlightening to him. I want to say that in no way dimenishes the sorrow of even one life lost - I just wanted to make one of several points to him.

Anyway, disgusting as this is, we can raise thinking, questioning young people. When they do it in the classroom it inspires others to think for themselves too. I've taught them to question their teachers if they need to, just be sure you back up what you say with facts and you will never be in trouble with me.