Subject: RE: Pulling Wool....: In support of the teachers husband, good for both of you. It sounds like they both made a lot of sacrifices along with sound decision making that led them to be where they are today. It sounds like "pulling wool" has sour grapes over his situation and choices.....but I would suggest he look at the choices he and his wife made and the sacrifices that they did or didn't make. Why do we as people try to knock down others who have what we want? Why doesn't the author of "pulling wool" use the teachers husband's story as one of inspiration? Why doesnt "pulling wool" get a degree in education, pass a state test, do student teaching while paying a mentor so that you can get a job paying $35-$40K per year? Why not? Because you cant afford to take that pay cut? Because you don't have the money to pay for educaton? Because you are not willing to put in the time to get that degree? Because you may not be capable of getting an ed ucation degree? Because you may not like kids and couldn't stand putting up with insane parents and snot nosed youngsters? The teaching profession is a very honorable career, always has been, always will. Where were all of these jealous healthcare-covered wannabes when teachers were paid $20K per year not that long ago? While I agree that Larry makes a good point in that government workers are in a lot of cases, paid more than their contractor counterparts, I must say that this has historically not been the case. In fact, it has only been in the past 5 years that government salaries have overtaken private salaries in some sectors. I am sure "pulling wool" wasn't complaining 5 years ago. The fact is that there are only so many government jobs to go around and they have recently become very coveted. In the past, government jobs were only coveted for the stability that they offered and usually you got better than average healthcare benef its and lots of days off. Now with the steady increases of pay over the last 5-10 years, government has caught up to and in some cases surpassed private industry. But when you mess with teachers, it bothers me. Education is so important in this country and many of the fine teachers in Mullica are like superheroes to our children. One does not need to look further than submissions from the likes of Inbreadman, MullicaBitch I and II and Mullicabastard to realize that our education system has failed these individuals. The teaching profession is a competitive one. It's a hard job. Education begins and ends with the teacher. Regardless of how messed up the administration may or may not be, teachers are the ones on the frontline. They are the CEO's of their classroom. Quality teachers, means quality education - which translates to greater demand for housing because folks wil l want to send their kids to that school system. Greater demand for housing means increased real estate prices and that should give all homeowners some solace. It seems to me "pulling wool" was pulling something else while making his submission. Up, Up and Away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RESPONSE: Just a very brief aside...the job our teachers are doing place us in world tests in science and math below 15 other countries. The school year is way too short ... we are not an agrarian nation any more...and the school day way too short. Our kids will be competing for jobs with the world...and we are too often failing them. The job we do of educating our kids in urban settings is despicable and there are many examples of private charter schools with longer days that succeed with these kids. The teaching profession has failed these children...and we are all the loser by their failure.