My blood boils when I get to thinking about this topic... not my teachers but my kids teachers.. if I didnt have 3 kids in school right now i'd give someone a ear full.. but like always post on a public forum.. some one at school reads it and then your kid gets singled out..aaarrrrgggggg!!!!!!!!!!@@@@@@@@@##########%$%^^&*&()(*&^%$%^&*()(*&^%$%^&*()(*&^%$#@$%^&*()

8:1? I have never even known a teacher to have ever seen anything close to that number. So, that dog won't bite. You mock the author's stance on the bravery of a few to reward all (something I'm not advocating), when only sentences earlier, you say, "my problem with public education," "union mentality," and "they take a collective stance on everything," effectively grouping me in with those that do have a union mentality. I just posted that I am not a member of the NEA. My sole purpose in posting that article is a reaction to recent members slamming my profession and basically saying I'm an indoctrinator and that I am in it for the paycheck. As if. "Any questioning of the merits of an educator is taken as vilification of the entire profession." Unfortunately, I've seen too much of that lately.

Poleaxe brings up a good point.

WHat do we do about it?
HOW do we go about changing things?

This is a glaring example of the failing of public education.
Kids should be taught about our government from a very young age. Not the socialist/union utopia dream, but what our government was meant to be, and how it actually works.
Most importantly they need to be taught of the DUTY to be actively involved on a continuous basis and how to make that involvement count.

I have a hard time swallowing the "teachers are heros" line AND then the cowardly "we cant do anything or we will get in trouble"

SO we are supposed to believe the Union marching orders that ALL teachers are brave heros that rush into fires and damaged buildings to save the kids, then turn off our minds and shut up.
We then are to excuse them from any responsibility for the quality and condition of their industry and union policy because they might "loose their job or be singled out for harassment".

Doesn't wash. That is textbook collectivism. Spout the party line and don't rock the boat.

Now that we have identified the problem.... What can we/you do about it.

Most people don't know this but LOCAL political seats are fragile and easily won. Particularly SCHOOL BOARD seats.
Truth is, hardly anybody runs. For the average conservative teacher, there is no real upside. It is an extra low paying job that would put you in a nest of liberals and union spokes people.
So... who runs? Agenda driven liberals, union puppets, special interest persons, and very few regular folks.

Imagine if a hand full of good conservative "hero" teachers got together, got some training and help, and ran for the local school board? YOU could make a HUGE difference.

Policy that expels kids for eating a cheese sandwich into the shape of a gun...? Gone.

Union contracts that protect child molester teachers? Good luck keeping that in the contract.....

See where I am going with this?

Yes, it will take courage. It will take commitment.
BE the HERO you claim to be.

It will be extremely hard for the Union and school board to retaliate against you IF you are ON the school board and calling the shots.