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And finally I'll just throw this out: If vouchers are implemented, don't you wonder what will happen to private school test results? Seems to me, private schools would lose their 'exclusiveness'-which is a huge point of private schools, isn't it?

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Do you have children? (Just curious)

The reason people send their children to private schools isn't "exclusiveness" it is for the physical safety of their children, less exposure to drugs and early sex, and a better education. To ascribe the motive of seeking "exclusiveness" to parents with these motives is highly snobbish and grossly unfair on your part. Your own words condemn you and stand for all to see and judge for themselves.

I do KNOW that teachers get far more vacation time and have the shortest work day of any other worker that I know. I have many teachers in my family and I KNOW that they are not putting in the off-work hours of other professionals. They do NOT have 24/7 responsibilities, are NOT on call, do NOT wear beeper, if they are not at their top form of a day no one will die or be permanently injured.

You can bleat like sheep all you want about how hard teachers work but the rest of us KNOW better. Like me they too have teachers for relatives, friends, and acquaintances.

Also, thankfully we have the new media and the TRUTH about government schools and teaching is finally getting the press it deserves.

Well, good morning to you too! Wintertime, I was wondering when I'd hear from you-you are one angry human being! You guys make such sweeping generalizations (all teachers this and that). You don't know me or anything about the way I teach.
In my county, over $8,000 is spent per pupil. Is that a lot of money-you're damn right it is! Too much? In my opinion, you're damn right it is! We have everything you could want, book and supply wise. I do not have to go in my own pocket to provide anything for my students which is nice for me. I don't live in the county where I teach and wouldn't want to, tax wise.
Are teachers overpaid? In some places, yes they are! I make a good living and am compensated very well for it. We don't have unions here --just the chapters of NEA of which I am not a member and never have been.
Work load? I'm not going to get in a pissing match with you about how hard I work. All I will say Wintertime is, if the teachers you know don't put in the hours required to do their job, than they are probably crappy teachers. And are you as charming to them as you are to us on FR?
Certification: It doesn't matter a damn how many degrees or where they are from-a bad teacher is a bad teacher. We have teachers going through National Boards at my school right now. Do they represent the best of the best? No. In my opinion, they are doing it for the money! Around here, most teachers come in with a Masters-it's built into their college program. Does it make them a better teacher? No. In my opinion, good teachers become that way over time and with experience.
Vouchers: Didn't mean to come off as snobby. But come on-you can't tell me that some people don't put their kids into private schools for the exclusiveness of it. Families have been doing it for generations-it's just how it's done. I'm not talking about you personally! I think competiveness would be a good thing. In this world where everything is 'fair' and no one gets their feelings hurt-people and schools get lazy. Schools should not EVER be that way. I'm not against school vouchers. I was just posing a question about the impact on private schools. (And man I got my answer!)The article states there isn't one but they only did the study on K-2 (or was it 3?). I'd be interested to see what happens in the upper grades. (hold your fire-I'm just wondering)
Class size? I don't care what anybody says-it does have an impact. Period.
Do I have children? No I don't, but if I did, I would do a LOT of research before deciding where to put my child-would I choose private school? Well, Id try to get my kids into the school district where I teach-it's not bad! If I could afford private education, I would definitely consider it! And yes, I do pay some pretty hefty taxes where I live too.
We're not all the enemy. We all do not have blinders on as to the problems in public schools-we live with these problems day in and day out. After 29 years, I've had just about enough of it and look forward to getting out next year. Yes, I will get retirement benefits-believe me I am grateful. It's not enough to live on but it's more than a lot of folks get.
I'm not quite sure what you are soooo angry about. Do you just resent the fact that you pay our salaries? Are all the schools around you that bad? Are the test results low? Are stupid ignorant people being turned out of your public schools? Are teachers' salaries that exorbitant? Maybe they are where you live. Do you have unions where you live? If you have complaints, I'm sure they are founded--take it up with the folks where you live-but don't lump every one of us together-
Have a nice day.