All the busy work and patchwork fixes lawmakers keep coming up with to improve education only compound the problem. They fail to understand that the most important element in education is the quality of the teachers and creating an environment in which they can practice their profession without all the regulations and second-guessing on how they should teach. Teaching is not only a profession, but an art; the ability to motivate, challenge and have students experience the passion for learning. That cannot be legislated; matter of fact, it's legislation that has killed education in today's schools. That's one reason education today is a road to nowhere.

Legislators should take the time to determine the direction of education for the 21st century. And it starts with recruiting the best and the brightest college students to become teachers, compensating them at the front end as successful businesses do and treating them as we do other professionals. Treat them with respect and trust their ability to bring out the talent and curiosity every child is born into the world with. Imagination and creativity, along with the basic skills, are required for America to succeed. Let teachers teach.

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A Utah native, John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations; been on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch, served on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards; and filled White House appointments, including deputy assistant secretary of labor and as a member of the commission on Hispanic education. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net