You see, the reason there aren't enough teachers is we aren't paying them enough...
I tell you, there is no way you could pay me enough to be on a job where anyone thought they could swear at me. Whether they are 5 or 50.
Amen to that. It's little wonder that they are having trouble attracting people to the profession and keeping them there. And some seem to burn out after a few years, even if they keep on teaching or start out enthused. I am involved with a program where I teach a class once a week to 2nd graders (no pay). But I see a lot of volunteers, some are teachers, some not. And a lot of day teachers from both public and parochial schools. The standards of behavior have changed so much over just the last 8 yrs that I've been at it. Academics have changed too, everything has to be 'easy'. I used to want to be a teacher, still would under the right circumstances, but I would have to not need to work, because I would become very picky, very fast about working conditions and pay. Swearing at me would not be an option.
I'd be happy if they'd just settle the contract that expired a year or two ago.