And therein lies the challenge for lawmakers, school boards and administrators who have created a plethora of laws and regulations that have led to a hostile, burdensome and intimidating environment for teachers and are the reason that few enter the profession and, of the ones that do, many leave within the first two to four years. Legislators are already proposing new ways to deal with the shortage to attract the top third of high school students for the new pool of teachers and pay them as the New Skills Commission recommended — change the current compensation system from back loading to an up-front one that would let new teachers earn professional pay like workers in the private sector, including deferential pay for areas of critical need.

It's time for the teachers union to think anew and support efforts that reform education for the new generation of students, rather than for their institutions. They ought to support efforts front-line teachers want — to have a working environment where they can use their passion and have the freedom to challenge students in ways that instill the love of learning. They must be a part of the solution as well as the business community. Businesses realize they must constantly be reinventing themselves to keep pace with change and ought to apply that concept in renewing education. That's their work force for tomorrow.

The education of children is not limited to the classroom; they are learning constantly and everywhere. Children's education is directly related to the investment parents make to make sure it happens. The power to change starts from the bottom, not the top. Huntsman said it well: "The power of our state comes from people who are concerned about their government. You are the greatest safeguard against depersonalized government and the antidote to apathy."

---

Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net