I get a lot of varied reactions when I tell people I'm a teacher.

The typical response is, oh, that's so great of you, you know, that's such important work.

We need good teachers.

A lot of people, even if they say those things, and even if they genuinely feel them, feel

like they'll be very grateful and appreciative of teachers until it's time to put their

money where their mouth is.

And then, if teachers are trying to get any sort of a raise or improved working conditions,

anything at all that's perceived as beneficial to them, we're seen as greedy because we

should be in it for the kids.

And we should be willing to do whatever it takes for the kids.

And so, if you need to spend your own money, it's for the kids.

You should be willing to do that.

If you need to give up your weekends and your evenings and anything else, it's for the

kids.

You should be willing to do that.

So anytime you ask for anything, then it's like they stop being grateful.

If you want to wade into a hot button issue that impacts children, taxpayers, and our

nation's future, look no further than the current cultural debate swirling around teachers.

For my part, I always assumed there was pretty clear cut conventional wisdom about teacher

pay that teachers are underpaid and everyone knows it.

Somehow the education system hasn't collapsed despite that.

And we're all hoping for the best.

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