This is off the subject a bit, but. I think that we should increase teachers salaries out of sight. That would attract the aggressive types to the field.
There's no better way to eliminate the teachers unions than by having teachers that are more aggressive and smart than the union bosses.
It might cost some money, but if just the money we waste on school administration were spent on teachers, they could double their salary right now.
The problem is that school systems mismanage money. In the county I grew up in, the two high schools have about 1,200 students each and are a LITTLE crowded. Rather than just add on to the existing schools, they are going to build a third high school.
This will just increase costs as now there will be three principals and his staff, three cafeteria staffs, three gyms, etc rather than just two. Gross duplication of services.
Larger high schools, like the ones in suburban Atlanta (3,000 students) have the advantage of being able to group students with similar abilities and goals together. Rather than having an advanced calculus class of 30 in which only 10 people should really be there, there is an advanced class of 25 where all of the students are qualified.
Also, schools waste money buying computers and other "teaching aides". If a kid doesn't know the difference between a noun and a verb, does a computer really help?