Everyone needs to understand a few things:

First, education cannot be treated like a business. Kids all learn differently and teachers need the flexibility to work extra with kids that don’t understand. You cannot force a time-based curriculum onto them, nor should parents get bent when teachers tell them their kids need help.

Second, a good teacher is a gift from god. They should be rewarded and treasured. They should not be pawns on the chessboards of politics. They deserve to have their performance rewarded above that of their nonperforming peers. They should not be punished by having more work assigned to them. They should simply be left to educate.

Third, bad teachers need to go. A bad teacher is quite likely worse than no teacher because they can reinforce a student’s idea that he is just stupid, teach things incorrectly and generally turn kids away from learning. You do not protect them or force good teachers to share their rewards with them.

Fourth, spending more money when you don’t understand the problem is a waste. While every kid today should learn to use a computer, MS Office and a few other key programs, not every classroom needs a computer. Familiarity breeds contempt. You shouldn’t invest in an electronic whiteboard when a regular blackboard will do.

Fifth, well, that’s enough manifest writing for one morning…