"Respect for education pays dividends. That can come, for example, in the form of higher teacher salaries, or greater public efforts to honor star students."
Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times, May 14, 2006
Today, there may be respect for a good education, but there is certainly no respect for teachers. In America now, society highly respects the people with the most money, power and influence--not necessarily the most education. This includes doctors, lawyers, investment bankers, celebrities at every level, Hollywood stars, fashion designers, hip-hop stars, professional athletes, etc. Where do teachers fit in this picture? The answer is easy--at the bottom of the ladder in terms of income and respect.
In America, Money Talks and the rest walk!
Even people with hardly any meaningful education are above teachers. For example, look at policemen, firemen, bus drivers, sanitation workers, civil servants, construction workers, doormen, etc. They all make higher salaries--and they all get big benefits including health care, pensions, liberal sick leave and vacation, frequent pay raises, etc. And, they have job security, which many teachers do not have unless they are tenured.
For more thoughts on how teachers should be respect, read the quote from Michael Moore below.
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