Replies

We've actually done the same thing to teachers that we long ago did to judges -- we took all discretion and creativity out of the process. A judge is no longer allowed to say, "All things considered, we're gonna let this one slide," because he's not expected to JUDGE anymore. He just slaps down mandatory sentences that are set by a legislature that doesn't trust him.

Until there is a reasonable way to get rid of the incompetent judges or teachers, there really is no way for us to trust any of them. For the teachers, much of the problem comes from the unions - as long the NEA insists on bringing leftist experiments into the classroom and refuses any system for taking incompetent teachers out of the classroom, this problem will exist.

Until there is a reasonable way to get rid of the incompetent judges or teachers, there really is no way for us to trust any of them.

Find competent people for $ 30,000 a year? Are you joking?

The driving motivator for most teachers is altruism. That's the Catch-22. Government knows this and exploits it. Then they try to fix the problem with education with sweeping mandates! There are a LOT of screwed up people out there raising a LOT of screwed up kids and we as a society are putting low paid personnel in classrooms and telling them to fix our kids! You bet teachers need to be creative! Competing with Eminem, Gansta movies, Soprano TV, free drugs and nobody home...Joe Pesci in yo' face...is a fine trick to come out of a 'cool' teachers big, bag of tricks! There are some amazing, creative teachers out there making a difference with thousands of Johnny's and Lonnies who arrive at school (sporadically) with a LOT of baggage!

The author is right on target. But I add..PAY teachers more...you'll get better teachers. (Amazing concept that seems to work for basketball/baseball/etc players) Otherwise get out of the teachers way, he/she has little time to fuss with all this constant beaucracy! They need to attend to page 127... it's Johnny's turn to read aloud.