I feel confident in my own abilities and in the abilities of many of the teachers in our nation, and so was saddened to read insults such as "those who can, do; those who can't, teach." I can honestly say that I have chosen teaching thoughtfully and because I want to apply my talents and love for children in order to help them reach their potential. I am ambitious and intelligent and am pursuing this career because I believe it is where I can make the most meaningful contribution in the world. My teaching classes are in-depth and cover extensive research on child psychology, classroom management, content, to name just a few areas of focus. I challenge anyone who believes that teachers glide through college without becoming true professionals to take a class like Educational Psychology. Educate yourself before you make a judgment, and only then can your assessment really be taken seriously. And, one question: why aren't you all making a bee-line to get your teaching certifications, asap? You describe this professions as if it were your own dream job: all too many vacations, overpaid, time to socialize, etc. So, go for it!!! (And try not to mind those who belittle your profession). Look, I'm not going to continue with the sarcasm. I challenge you all to educate yourselves about the profession (and education does NOT include political articles or weblogs...) objectively. Take off your red-hot-angry political lenses for a minute and give some credit to those who are or plan to work as hard as they can to educate America's children in the most professional manner possible. Don't make generalizations. I'm a person who is genuinely motivated to help kids be the best they can be, so when I read some of these comments, I felt momentarily discouraged. Some have even belittled this ideal to help others, making it seem like it is a sham or a ploy. Some might say I shouldn't care, but I do care about the percieved integrity of my profession. I do care that many parents will judge me before meeting me, instead of approaching me as an individual. And I care that our country is torn apart by political hatred on both sides, and that neither of the extreme poles of ideology seem to be objective. It seems that many people use politics as a way to vent hatred. So, anyways, thanks for allowing me a spot on your weblog. My intent is not to make anyone's blood boil, but to offer a different view. Wish everyone here the best, really...