Mar 27 2011: As a professional educator, I take exception. Yes, there are bad teachers, as well as nurses, doctors, scientists, farmers and cleaners of bathrooms. There are also exceptional ones, who in all of these occupations when they were "called", took up the challenge. Any one of us can be fired; there are no guarantees and each of us has chosen, for whatever reasons, to pursue our passion with its risks and benefits. In defense of Ms. Harper, as a Floridian in one of the professions most under attack by our current legislators over the past month, the saving grace is when we are respected by our students. There is little evidence of that being the case elsewhere, including in these posts. As this continues to be evident to young people, is it any surprise if they fail to value not only their teachers, but their education as well? And that, in my humble opinion, is the worst lesson any of us can teach by example. Per the discussion about salaries - every public employee's salary scale is posted online. National averages of nurses, doctors, scientists, farmers and custodians are likewise available. Anyone with the internet and elementary skills can do the math. I left teaching and returned - not because of summers off, a stress-free job, the fancy benefit package, lunches with colleagues or the pay check. I was called to teach and as a teacher, as one of "us" has said, what I make is 'a difference'. Do you?
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A comment on Conversation: Teachers are called not hired.