The recommendations in all three reports appear designed to "enhance" the state's higher education's ability to get more tax dollars to recruit people to enter its teacher education programs. That in spite of the 2003 study by the Utah State Office of Education that found many students don't want to enter the profession and those who do want to leave it as soon as they can. One of the most important problems the first study found (but seemingly ignored) is that 40 percent of those who graduate from Utah teacher colleges never enter the profession and that another 40 percent leave the profession after five years. It found that half of the teachers trained came from a private institution, Brigham Young University. So, why are the professionals still recommending tax dollars for public institutions?

The 2003 study found that of the number of teachers leaving that year, only 24 percent left to retire. That raises the question: Why did the other 76 percent leave? Perhaps teachers, on exit interviews, give courtesy answers such as to spend more time with their family. The professionals see it as a supply side problem, when, in fact, it's a hemorrhaging problem.

Many front-line teachers have told me they leave because of the oppressive and stressful working conditions. New teachers, eager to make a difference in the lives of children, are quickly disillusioned as they find themselves isolated, alone and unprotected by some administrators and board members from unwarranted criticism. Teachers find themselves in an environment where they are required to teach assembly-line style in order to comply with the myriad useless regulations created by the Legislature's failing to see it is part of the problem.

Our children and families deserve, and must demand, more of our elected leaders to exercise leadership. As citizens, we must remember change comes from outside, not within, the system and that government belongs to the people.

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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

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