My apologies for missing your previous question; I was a bit preoccupied with family for the holidays and didn't catch that particular post. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear the Eagle archives web letters, either.

For the record, I am neither a teacher, nor am I married to one.

I can be relatively certain that there are no more or less bad teachers than there are of any other profession. If you did indeed see teachers "screaming" at the board, there have been just as many other individuals on the other side acting out. It's disappointing, but some people are simply not able to hold reasonable conversations when they're upset. I would question your accusation, however, because I was at the same meeting, and I felt everyone conducted themselves well.

I would also again question your idea that higher salaries would not attract better teachers. As I've already asked several times, what unique economic phenomenon causes the basic tenets of capitalism to be rendered moot for the teaching profession?

Regarding our difference of opinion, I think it's rather absurd to state that the only people who believe in the preeminence of education are teachers and their spouses. We have public education because our country as a whole once believed that, more than anything else, our children need to receive a quality education. Perhaps that has changed. If that is indeed the case, then I can certainly see why America is faltering on the competitive world stage. Perhaps too many grew up taking our educational system for granted.