Last year, I bought a binder anonymously for a student whose parents couldn't afford to do it. They were the only student in the class without one and they felt badly. I left it in the office so as to not embarass the parent or put them in a strange position. At Christmas time several years ago, I purchased several outfits for a child that was coming to school wearing their sister's clothes. The pants were so big they had to tie a rope around their waste. I left this at the local fire station, with a note as to where to deliver them. I didn't want anyone to know where the clothes came from, again to not embarass the parents or the child. Don't tell me that I don't understand. I deal with children every day that have needs that are far beyond anything that I have ever experienced or would want to. I have children whose parents are drug users, in jail, or completely gone from the picture. It breaks my heart each and every day. I never said ALL children, and I used the word SOME when I was talking about those that just don't care. I will not post my past experiences on here but I will say that I was not raised in an upper class home. Where you ever got the idea on what my life as a child was like, I will never know. I asked a question on how merit pay should be based, because I am interested in hearing others' opinions on the matter. I thought that was a fair question (and what this site was for) and that I had presented some critical information to consider when paying teachers by merit. Again, I do feel that I am one of the good ones and would love to see merit pay that works. I, for one, would benefit from it if it is based on performance of the teacher. To have the disrespect to swear at me or anyone else on here is unbelievable. HOW DARE YOU be so judgmental about someone that you clearly don't know. To the others on here, I have enjoyed reading your posts and it is interesting being a teacher and hearing what the public has to say. Whether or not I have agreed with you is not the point. It is good to know how my own parents feel and to be able to work better with them because of it. I hope that I have not come across to others on here as I have come across to Renay. Never once have I tried to act as if I am any better than the rest of you, nor do I feel that way. Whether you believe it or not, teachers and parents are all on the same team, or should be, and that is to get the students to be succesful, whatever their background is and whatever their goals may be.