It Takes a Teacher

to tell it like it really is, and to tell people that it is long overdue to stop scapegoating them for society's problems:

Consider what it takes to be a teacher.

At least five years of college -- at a cost of about $15,000 to $20,000 per year. You might have to work as a substitute for several years, with a small daily salary and no benefits.

Once you get a full-time job, you'll probably be making at least 20 percent less annually than you would if you had chosen another field requiring a master's degree. The work is physically and psychologically exhausting.

In the summers, you'll go back to school, take required training programs and get some time to catch up on your household chores that you had to put off because the school year is so incredibly full, with classroom teaching, preparing lessons and tests, grading the tests, going to meetings, attending student activities and so on.

Most teachers love their students and love their work. They have to, although, like anyone, they sometimes complain. But we can only expect so much of them. They are often heroes. We should never ask them to be the scapegoats for poverty, racism, crime, violence, drug and alcohol abuse and rest of the things kids take to school with them every day.