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Generally, the school is only as good as the students and parents. But, then what do I know? I've only been teaching in the California school systems for 43 years--ALL levels...and I've seen most of the world and even some of ITS schools.

Teaching in California for 43 years AND seen most of the world.
You have my boundless admiration. That's AWESOME!

Just for grins... has any teachers union gone on a protracted strike to protest the leadership of the educational system, and the impossibility of teaching under those conditions? Even ONE? Anywhere?

Thought not.

Teaching in California for 43 years AND seen most of the world. You have my boundless admiration. That's AWESOME!
Well, the teaching was one of the few jobs that women could have way back then and still make a fairly decent salary. There were always rich/educated girls who became doctors, lawyers, etc., but I wasn't in that category. For my blue collar family teaching was a GOOD thing for a woman.
I (we) saw the world because my husband worked for ARAMCO; we lived in Saudi Arabia five years and saw the world. That was one of the reasons we went over there.

I raised three kids starting in 1960. I worked in private industry 47 years. I have not seen every country in the world, but a dozen countries on three continents (extensively; families there) is my modest achievement.
AND, I was ranting 30 years ago too, because all my children had been educated and I was still paying for an education system that that produces functional illiterates and ranks California what? 26th in the U.S.A.?
Well, California schools may stink to you but they don't to me. If they stank so much I wouldn't have stayed in the system so long. Functional illiterates aren't the fault of the schools, they are the fault of parents who
just don't give a damn,
are divorced and fighting over the kids,
are working so many hours that they just don't have the time for their own children,
think that giving their kids a cell phone is enough parenting,
don't have the time because they are single parents, and
are so darned spoiled themselves that it'll be a cold day in hell before THEY grow up.
I could add several more reasons, but you get my point.

My main point is that the teacher's union approach to the problem is so long as they get twice what the job should be worth, they can put up with the hell of schools, so long as they also get special perks, tenure, andunconscionable retirement benefits. The problem starts there.
I agree with you 100%. Spoiled teachers. They work 180 days a year and moan. My husband worked 254 days a year with ONE lousy week off. He NEVER complained. In ARAMCO he worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week. That was the job, take it or leave it.
I work even less than 180 days a school year and I never, never, never, never complain and BLESS the day I got this job and plan to keep it until I can't walk anymore.

Just for grins... has any teachers union gone on a protracted strike to protest the leadership of the educational system, and the impossibility of teaching under those conditions? Even ONE? Anywhere? Thought not.
As I wrote, I am NOT in my teacher's union. I abominate it but don't criticize. Why should I? I'm delighted with what I'm doing and those union folks can just do their own thing. I don't care. Nothing I say or do has ever changed anything in the system. I don't look for my two cents to do anything now either.
By the way, I agree with your last statement. Protest the leadership? Lol. They would be biting the hand that fed them.
CHOMP!!