The Trouble With Teachers Isn't Too Much Power, It's Too Little Respect.

I think I've changed my mind about teachers. I think their right to collective bargain should be taken away from them. That's because they are professionals and their status as such needs to be raised in the minds and hearts of the general public. Now. No, I don't think that removing collective bargaining alone will do that, but it will help. See, here's the thing. Teachers are the most important tool we have in our toolbox to make America competative in the world marketplace. So, how come we pay forty percent of college graduates substantially more then teachers? And don't give me that hogwash about teachers only working nine months a year at an easy job. Because that's hogwash, just like I said. It's a tough job for a dedicated teacher. And dedicated teachers are what we need. The thing is, if we take away the right to bargain, and leave teachers to the mercy local elected officials, we doom them to low pay, little support and low status. Is that what we want or need for our children? Is that how we can get ahead of the rest of the world? Hardly. A lot of school districts give more support to sports teams then they do to teachers. So, in order to draw the best of college students into teaching, we need to convince them they'll be appreciated. They need to know they'll be paid  on par with other college grads, but also that they'll receive the kind of support that a winning coach gets. They need to know they'll have good equipment and facilities, and that they'll have the respect and support from administrations and school boards that a winning team enjoys. There will need to be testing of students in order to keep track of how they and their teachers are doing, but there needs to be some sort of testing to determine how the administrations and school boards are doing as well. And don't forget States support. You can't put all the weight on teachers and let the leadership off the hook, entirely. I think that, often, the problem with under-achieving teachers and schools has more to do with leadership and funding then it does with teachers. Think about your own profession and job. If the boss supports and respects you, and gives you the proper tools, you are able to do a far better job. Do you really think that teachers are different in that respect? So, hug a teacher today. Especially the pretty ones.