Deseret News | Issue of day: cutting taxes or raising teacher pay

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Issue of day: cutting taxes or raising teacher pay

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Re: Tired of being abused | 10:51 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Where did you get 168 days for teachers. There are over 180 school days plus 5 days before the school year starts, plus about 4 teacher days during the year, plus conferences during the summer. So it is at least 200 days that teachers are expected to work. Most teachers also put in a lot more time than this during the summer getting ready for the next year, so we will say the average teacher works about 210-220 days per year. Therefore teachers are working more like 87-90% of what your average Joe is working. This is according to your rationale but I think most teachers are working at least as much as your Average Joe.

How about cutting admin pay? | 11:08 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

I'd like to see the Admin costs go down for schools. We keep dumping more money into education, but none of it ever ends up in the classroom. Freeze admin costs and specify xx% has to go to teacher pay, period.

Teacher's work sooooo much! | 11:15 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

I love it how everyone says that "most" teachers spend a few days in seminars during the summer. And others grade papers at night. Some even spend time preparing for class. Are you implying that every private-sector person clocks out at 5 and does nothing else for their job? "Most" people I know out here in NY where I work, work 60-80 hours/week. There's a saying that if you don't come in on Saturday, don't bother coming in on Sunday either. Plus we have plenty of business trips/seminars/training classes that we have to go to also. And since we're salary, we don't get paid for our "extra" hours either.

Comments continue below

Not just Teacher Hours | 11:16 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Many people complain that teachers have it soooo good because they get paid for only 9 months' work and have great benefits and job security --- but have you considered what they have to put up with on a daily basis? Children who misbehave, are disrespectful, and sometimes just plan dangerous -- parents who don't take responsibility for their childrens' behaviors or take an active interest in their performance except to place blame, pressure from administrators to constantly increase test scores, etc. I can't imagine what it must be like to try and teach a class where some children don't get it, some are light years ahead of others, and the rest fall in the middle. How many of us would be able to function when surrounded with 35 full-of-energy children every day? THANK YOU, Teachers, for all you do!!! You deserve a 100% pay raise in my book!

Common Sense | 11:22 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

A lottery would allow for a huge sallary increase for teachers in a addition for a reduction in class size. It's time Utah stops acting like a Pennsylvania Amish town and allow people their freedom to chose (or as the predominant church calls it 'their free agency').

Easy. | 11:24 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

CUT TAXES!!! Teachers don't deserve a pay raise after their temper tantrum over vouchers. They don't care about the quality of children's education, they only care about themselves. Cut taxes, let the teachers reap what they have sown.

RE: Not just Teacher Hours | 11:36 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Maybe you should personally fund that 100% pay increase! Teachers also have to deal with a bunch of kids who don't speak-a English. Hmmmm... Privatized school's wouldn't allow students to get in for free while other student's parents were funding the bill. Everyone would have to pay. Government run schools will NEVER be the solution.

Reality check coming soon | 11:37 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

All those of you who bemoan the easy life that a teacher lives, summers off, great benefits, great retirement, etc etc, better wake up to the simple fact that the state of Utah started with 400 classrooms without teachers last August. Not 400 classrooms without good teachers, they had no teachers at all. Why? real simple pay and working conditions. Low pay and high classroom sizes. If we are lucky we will only start next year with 600 classrooms with no teachers. That number will not decrease until the state wakes up and takes care of their responsibilities. You can make all the excuses you want, but it will 600 next year and 800 the year after and so on and so on. Good Luck Utah, it not the teachers you are hurting, its the children, who will sit overcrowded classrooms or classrooms with no teachers.

Courtney | 11:41 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Let's just outsource teaching jobs to India and have kids learn via satellite. That way we won't need to increase tax funding. Everyone will be happy!

Re: Re: Not Just Teacher Hours | 11:46 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

If I had it, I would gladly fund a 100% teacher's pay raise! I know many, many great dedicated teachers! They deserve it and they WORK for it!

No Utah Republicans | 11:53 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Why are we even debating this issue? 90% of Republicans in this State voted for mitt Romney. 75% of the state is Republican. The problem is that the Republicans in Utah don't understand the ethics behind their own party. Raising teacher pay is funding a Union. That is completely against our ideals. What is worse is we are using tax money to fund a Union. Lower teacher pay, Give us a tax break. Force the teachers to drop the Union and then negotiate with some human beings that realize you get paid for what you accomplish. A car wash gets paid the same whether it washes a Yugo or a BMW. Our kids might be important, but teachers work @ 30% less than the average worker.

Wayne | 11:50 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Lush new Utah Tax Commission Buildings on North West Temple with spacious, mostly empty space tell a lot.

Government is top heavy! Take a second look at the plush remodeling of the capitol building. We need MORE going to schools ... not more government. Anyone out there listening? !!!

My property tax hearing had overwhelming evidence of property tax being not affordable. Yet, two judges sided with the County and didn't raise a finger to realize a simple fact that property tax is now escalating at 5.6 TIMES the rate of the Federal Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)!

Teacher in Utah | 12:02 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

My husband is a teacher here in Utah and if the pay scale does not change soon we will be moving to a different state that can afford to pay their teachers. Utah is one of the lowest paid states that is why we are short over 200 teachers this year. We need to remember that this is our childrens future do we want full time subs teaching them or well paid educated teachers teaching them.

Seronac | 12:02 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

"Keep cuting teachers pay untill the testing results go way up, like into the top 20% of the rating system."

If your writing above is any indication, you are not a good source of advice for legislators. Furthermore, higher test scores do not mean that students are actually learning anything. Be careful, your ignorance is showing.

"Teachers 'work' approximately 67.9% as much as Joe Q. Public. For this, they are demanding the same pay rate as Joe Q. Public."

Nope, not true, you make an invalid comparison. You apparently don't understand what it takes to be a teacher: you take work home every night, professional development days, workshops, and recertification classes. You also get pressure from parents, students, administrators, legislators, and the public. I dare you to spend a month in a classroom!

The problem that teachers have is that they make it look too easy. Let every parent and taxpayer try it for a while and they'll pay teachers ten times wat they get now!

jeremy p | 11:58 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

If the legislature is considering cutting the 2500 to 1500 (inreality it will propably end up 1000) they should consider cutting WHO gets the extra money first. I am a school teacher and have yet to see anything that happens at our district office affect my classroom in ways other that day to day operations. They should consider giving that money to those that truely are in need of it. Those professionals that are in the classroom working with students on a daily basis and not administrators.

Anonymous | 12:29 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

1) Why would I as a young person with passion and a brain go into teaching when I could become a lawyer, producer, politician etc. and make twice as much for equal or less work and 5 times as much prestige? Does our society really care about teachers if we keep the pay low? Actions speak louder than words. The monney going into a profession, industry, or in this case public education IS a measure of how much we value that entity in our society. Will paying teachers 2,500$ more change a thing in terms of who becomes a teacher? No. This profession will never change or will take more than our lifetime to evolve into something more valued.

2) Human nature = incentive. Whats the incentive for legistlatures and social elite to educate the populace? Does not exist. Ideal vs. reality. Education comes down to one thing: family. Who's your daddy and what does he do? Lawyer; your an A student. Working class; your likely to become the same. America does not = equality and land of opportunity. America = Capitalism. Join the competition, clue into reality; you chose a profession that makes no monney. Your bad.

Last Year Teachers didn't get $ | 12:40 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

From what I hear, the legislature gave out a $2,500 pay raise to teachers, but only in Alpine school district did the teachers get this actual pay raise. Some teachers got far less.

As I have read the news articles, the reason it was done this way is that legislators didn't want to micro-manage the school districts.

Given that some school districts refuse to do it correctly, if you don't want to waste taxpayer funds, a little micromanaging seems called for.

I want teachers to get paid more, but if we are going to do pay out the money, we need to make certain it goes to the intended purpose.

Raise their pay... | 12:40 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

I'm all for the "little guy". The teachers I know (who teach my kids) are practically "saints". They sincerely care about the kids and do their jobs for what amounts to poverty level wages. I'm all for increasing their pay, within the limits of what we have available...I don't see a more important job in society, and it just happens to be about the most under-valued job. Time to rectify that.

Wanted to be a teacher | 12:55 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

From the time I was young I wanted to be a teacher- I spent many hours tutoring others and even worked as a teaching assistant volunteer in schools across Utah and also a semester abroad in China. What do I do as a profession knowing I had to pay for 4 years of college? I am an accountant. By the way, I hate accounting! It's so boring! I graduated college at age 21 and received a job offer the next day making $42k. After 9 months on the job I received a raise taking me to $47k. I knew I could not possibly make as much money in teaching. My plan is to work hard and have enough money to live on with the hope that maybe someday when I retire I will have the opportunity to teach beacuse that is what I truly love to do.

Re: tired of being abused | 12:53 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

If you are going to slam teachers at least get your facts straight. They have 183 contract days. AND it isn't all the teachers that are complaining about pay. They knew when they started. It is all those that know before they start teaching that don't want to compromise their take home pay to teach. I know. My husband teaches and he LOVES it! However, for the payoff, I also have to work so that we can pay our mortgage. For us, it was a sacrifice we were willing to make because he is doing something he loves. Some days he comes home excited to tell me about the interaction he got from his classes that day. Or how he feels he has made a difference. Many aren't willing to make that sacrifice. THAT is what they are trying to change.

Please don't be angry at the current teachers. They are doing the best they can. And really, they are the middle man. Those with any power are the administration and school boards.

my two cents | 12:53 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Common cents 11:22 recommends a lottery. Why don't you just go in to your local school district office every week and write them a check for $5 or whatever you would spend weekly on a lottery? Take a week off every now and again to simulate winning a $2 prize. A lot more of your money would make it to the schools as there would be no retailers, lottery board, or winners taking their cut of the lottery sales. Washington State voters approved a lottery a few years ago after the supporters continually said it would provide more money for schools. The Washington State constitution requires 50% of state revenues be spent on public education, but they are often in violation of that requirement, as other needs take too much of the general fund, even with lottery proceeds. A lottery is not the solution, and it's a non-starter in Utah, anyway.

RE Tired of being abused | 1:01 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Get a life! You are clueless! Joe Q. Public must not have a college degree. If Joe Q. Public wants to make more money, he should have put more thought and effort into higher education.
The fact is teachers must have a 4 year degree. Most other professions with a four year degrees make at least 20-30k more a year than teachers do.
And PLEASE.... I don't want to hear the rhetoric that the teaching path is easy. I am currently an ELED teaching major, I was at the top of my class in high school with a 3.8, as well as an AP student. These classes are as difficult as many of the classes my other friends are taking in their majors. We spend an average of 20 hours+ per week in instruction. These classes are teaching us research based methods to educate your precious little darlings. Why do I do want to be a teacher? Because I firmly believe that education and a child's future go hand in hand. Without education, ignorance, poverty, and prejudice reign. I love to learn and I want to affect a new generation of children to also have a desire do better.

Sinbad | 1:30 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Don't cut taxes, and don't raise teachers salaries. Instead raise taxes and hire more teachers to teach English as a second language and take the "Diversity" pressure off of the School district where Sandy Elementary seems to have a problem differentiating between the United States of America and the United States of Mexico.

Want some bread with your whine? | 1:48 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

If you spend $x for a 4 year degree; you could have chosen many professions.

If you were foolish enough to not know what teachers made before you graduated, you are not worthy of having the diploma you were given.

Teaching is one of the easiest degrees to get; some competition for the bottom is "Home Economics" and "Child Development". This is a fact, deal with it. Want to compare coursework in the Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Physics, Programming or Medical coursework with your English/Phys. Ed. degree?

Teaching simply isn't that hard. Hundreds of thousands of untrained, non-degreed mothers teach their young at home, without taxpayer funded buildings - and do a far superior job than what our educational system has demonstrated.

The day that you can show me a man with a gun to your head, forcing you to stay in the educational system, you will have my sympathy. If you don't like the career you chose, if it isn't paying enough - I'd suggest you find a career that rewards you better.

Problem Solved | 1:51 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

How about this: hire illegal aliens as teachers. They will do the job for half what the teachers want and we can cut taxes at the same time. An added benefit is the bi-lingual education and Mexican history our kids will recieve at reduced costs. Welcome to the real world of illegal alien construction labor in Utah.

shurts | 1:53 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Box Elder district is advertising for a technician with a two year associates degree to do network duties (entryleve l) The salary is 51,000 which is TWICE THE STARTING PAY OF A TEACHER WITH 4 TO 5 YEAR BACHELOR DEGREE. RAISE THE TEACHERS WAGES. YOU ARE ENTRUSTING THEM WITH THE EDUCATION OF YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION.

EVERY TEACHER I KNOW HAS 2 PLUS PART TIME JOBS WHICH ONLY TAKE THEM AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY TIME.

scott H. | 1:56 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Cry me a river of teacher tears. If you are being abused by your profession use your American rights to quit and get another job. The private sector is tired of supporting all public employees with tax increases.

Katy | 2:16 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Teachers have had a large increase in salaries in the past five years, but the more they get, the more they seem to complain. Where else is there job security like educators have?

The biggest problem is there is too much difference in a teacher's "starting pay" and those who have taught for ten years. Where else in the business world is this the case. Starting teachers get about $30,000 - ten years teachers get double that. Where I work, they hire new employees with salaries closer to those that have worked for years.

This would certainly be a way to attract teachers to the profession and more fair. After three years of teaching, they are doing the same job as those that have been teaching for twenty. No added responsibilities like the "real world".

We have heard the scare of "teacher shortages" for years. Usually it ends up being special education that has the teacher shortage. That has always been with us.

85% of Utah Teachers | 2:16 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

are Socialists. They want big pay and little work. 85% don't have any idea how the real world works.

Good News! | 2:22 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Quick summary... HB1 legislation line 98 (ii) is for $90,731,500 this is the ongoing $2,500.($3,106)that was partially funded last legislative session and fully funded in HB1.

The FY09 part was batted around in HB 212 2Sub. Now that new revenue estimates have been presented we will see if they do another $2,500 or some lesser amount. So it is good to know that the Legislature has made last years $2,500 ( $3,106) on going so that it can be placed on the salary schedule of Districts without fear of this not being funded in future years! YEA!

A Real Teacher | 2:20 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

I would like to know how often John Q. Public has taken work home with him at night so that his "employees" (students) can get timely feedback. I would like to know how often Mr. Public has not been able to sleep at night because he is worried about whether or not his employees are learning to read and write and compute. I would like to know how much money Mr. Public has spent of his own money to have appropriate work supplies.

As a teacher, I am offended that the public would see my work as just another job. I am highly educated. During my summer "break" I pay to take classes so I can learn the latest advances in education. And not least of all, I educate your children.

Please respect me and the work I do. I've taken the good and bad that you've given me; please support me and help me to educate them.

Re:Shurts | 2:37 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Here's a novel idea.

Why not have a teacher become qualified to do the job? That way they can earn a better living.

Ah, but that would require the teacher do something other than whine and gripe. Learning a useful skill isn't painful, it can (in fact) be quite liberating.

No one if forcing you to be a teacher, this is a self-imposed profession. Don't like it? Then I'd suggest YOU change, and stop insisting that the world change in order to meet your needs.

A Real Teacher...again | 2:46 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

I guess I need to stop reading the comments at the end of these articles because it seems that everyone wants me to quit and get a "real" job. I hope you can find someone else to put up with your kids. Or, maybe those "untrained, non-degreed" mothers should keep their juvenile delinquents at home and give them a "superior" education...and teach them some manners while they're at it.

Re:A Real Teacher | 2:40 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

"I would like to know how often John Q. Public has taken work home with him at night .... I would like to know how often Mr. Public has not been able to sleep at night because ... I would like to know how much money Mr. Public has spent of his own money to have appropriate work supplies."

Having never worked in the 'real world' I can imagine you think you are unique, and imagine that we should all be impressed. The facts point to the extreme opposite.

Do you think Engineers call it a day at 5? Chemists? Doctors? Lawyers? Programmers? Nope. We take classes (which we are NOT reimbursed for) to simply KEEP the job we have. We can be unemployed for any, or no reason at all, without notice and any given time.

Sorry, this is a pathetic excuse, that has no weight whatsoever in the 'real world'. Perhaps you should see what the 'real world' is like; so you'll understand why the rest of us have no sympathy for your plight.

Re: Re: Shurts | 2:52 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

But who's going to teach the useful skill? Ah, therein lies the rub. There is a need for teachers, whether you want there to be or not. We must address this critical need. Period. Pay the teachers so others can benefit from their willingness to impart knowledge.

RMW | 2:55 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Utah is in a crisis. Student enrollment is skyrocketing. Utah will need many more teachers per year than are even enrolled in education programs throughout the state. HALF of all new teachers quit before they finish the first five years. HALF of all teachers currently in the system will be of retirement age within the next ten years.

The best way to improve quality of teaching is to be able to select from MANY qualified candidates. In order to have qualified candidates from which to choose, you need better conditions and salaries until there are MANY who want to make teaching a profession. Right now, what are we offering? Do you really think the best and brightest students in high school who have abilities to choose engineering, medicine, science and law are giving serious consideration to the education profession?

We are not even CLOSE to improving conditions, salaries, and benefits sufficiently to make a difference yet. Weï¿½re lucky to just keep even with other states. We need a MUCH better effort or weï¿½re going to pay a steep price very soon. Giving a tax break and cutting back on teacher investment is a huge mistake.

Re:A Real Teacher | 3:01 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

If an Airman at HAFB whined about the amount he makes, they would tell him to leave the Air Force, and go earn what he can in the 'real world'.

If I whine about my paycheck; I'm free to find another job that pays better. So are you.

Why are teachers being treated different?

Paying teachers more for a job does not mean that they do a better job. There is no accountability, there is no need to do better than the minimum in the educational system; so why are taxpayers required to pay more than the minimum?

The Law of Supply and Demand is a law, not a hypothesis or a theory. A Teacher is not a tough degree, so there is no shortage of people who can accomplish that degree. Contrast this to the people who have the ability to pursue more lucrative incomes.

A Policeman, Fireman and Dog Cather also perform a dangerous, necessary job - yet we don't hear them whining like the teachers do.

If you don't like the pay; find another profession - just like the rest of us.

Example | 2:58 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Here's a great example of teaching not being on par with other professions:
I teach the science classes needed to practice medicine. My wife went into a medical field (after being taught by folks like me). She works 2 days per week and has made more than I have for each of the past 5 years.

Quit Slamming Teachers | 3:10 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

I for one appreciate all teachers. They are not selfish people. They have truely cared for my kids and even spend some of their own money to buy things the district would not pay for. I wish people would stop slamming them here.

I support more pay because there are too many highly qualified people that pass up on a teaching career because of the low pay.

Re:Shurts | 3:12 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

There will always be someone willing to teach - once we have a balance established between Supply and Demand. The NEA will not allow competence to come into play - there are some fine teachers, and there are some horrible teachers. The horrible teachers have been there for awhile, they know they cannot be fired, so they stay.

This paradigm does not exist in the 'real world'.

In the 'real world', you can be fantastic; but if the business fails, you lose your income, your home and risk bankruptcy. If you are lousy, you will not have a job at all.

To give teachers a blanket raise is simply unwise. Making all Airport Security a Federal Employee did not make any of us safer. It gave people a huge raise, in a job where performance no longer matters.

Teachers are in the same situation. Compare wages and test scores with the 50-60's and tell me how things have improved since then.

Want more money? Then earn it; like everyone else in the USA does, every day, day by day.

to "tax cuts good" | 3:13 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

you ought to check your facts before spreading inaccuracies...

"7 years approx 40,000 a year plus career ladder money"-- Granite pays $37,704 for 7 years with a BS. No more Career Ladders.

"8 months working 730-330 with a payed (sic) lunch" -- Granite's contract is 188.5 days, which is is 9.425 months (20 working days/month). 7:30-3:30? Doesn't happen often; if so, work is probably being taken home. Lunch is 30 minutes, from the bell ending class, until you're at your door ready for the next, and you get a week of lunch duty about every 5 weeks, too!

"you get a prep period 1 and half hours to prepare" -- Some high schools do; most middle/junior highs get a normal 45-50 minute period; elementary teachers don't even get that! Prep. time comes in quite handy, since it's hard to do planning or grading with 30+ kids that need your attention.

"6 hours a day 8 months a year 40,000 sound pretty good pay to me!" Sounds good to me, too, if it were true. Regardless, if that's still too much pay, try subbing in any junior high and see if you feel the same way later.

Re: Pac 10 | 3:37 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Pac 10, you hit the nail on the head.

Pass the illegal immigrant legislation -> turns off the Utah magnet -> class sizes drastically fall -> quality of education significantly increases.

RE Want some bread...and others. | 3:43 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

It is all so tiring to hear people tell teachers that they should "get a real job" or "trade their career in for a new one".
I am a student teacher, and I definately know what I am in for as far as pay.. and your demeaning comments.
Yes... homeschooled children have an advantage some of the time. We have seen this. The media likes to play it up. However, I have met many homeschooled children that are backwards socially or uneducated as well. The point I am trying to make here, is that everyone likes to play up their own agendas.
Yes, education has been shorted for years, and we are going to "pay the piper." If you go to any of the universities here along the wasatch front you will notice, that there are not many students enrolling in education anymore. It just doesn't pay. Those that do go out of state, where the pay is better and we are respected as a profession.
You forget one thing in all your arguments...who is going to teach our future engineers, doctors, lawyers and scientists. Who will be there to guide the hand of our children?

Re: Shurts | 3:59 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

In the "real world", a business can also cut its losses, cut its margins, sell more or less of a product based on consumer desire. Schools cannot cut margins. Teachers have to teach their subject whether their "consumer" desires the product or not. Your comparison is ludicrous.

Talk to a legislator | 3:55 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Empty words= very little accomplished. All those with "bright" ideas i.e. "get a new career" "teachers have a cushy job" etc. need to call their legislator and get our rules and laws changed. .... Oh wait.... too much time to pick up a phone, well, try substituting in one of our cushy classrooms with 30+ students, some of which have the same bad attitude about teachers that their parents do. After about a week of whining, non-complient students maybe you'll change your tune.
I teach because I want to make a difference in the life of a child.
To those parents out there who support teachers, words can never express my appreciation for your thoughtful and kind words.
To those who demean the profession, I am sorry that you had such lousy teachers.
I agree that there needs to be some type of merit pay, however do we have merit pay with any other goverment job, I don't think so.
My husband works for the state, and hasn't gotten a substantial pay increase in years. (His boss has recommended my husband for an increase, with no luck.)
...This is the wave of the future socialism at it's finest.

Blue | 4:05 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Would someone define what "good pay" is? $10.00/hour? $20.00/hour? $40.00/hour? Lets hear it. What would be considered good pay?

Happy American | 4:06 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Estoy agradecido de vivir en un pais donde yo tengo la libertad de decir lo que quiera y como quiera (a cierto punto). Es bueno que no hay idioma oficial. El cambiarlo seria una cosa terrible! Nosotros, como americanos, tenemos que aprender adoptar al cambio.

Before I am profiled incorrectly. I am a citizen, born here, parents were born here(I am 10th generation) American. I think it is terrible, terrible that we have such terrible attitudes to our brothers and sisters. America has no official language, and we need to keep it like that. If translating the Star Spangled Banner, or pledge of allegiance into Spanish helps more people to understand its beauty, I am for it. We need to learn how to adapt. If America turns into a Spanish speaking country, so be it. The British made it English speaking (after the French made it french and the Spanish made it Spanish), so if we get more Latinos (I hate the work, but no better one comes to mind) LEARN SPANISH! LA has a hispanic mayor, and honestly I dont think it will be long before SLC gets one. Yo aprendi espanol.

Another Brick in the Wall | 4:04 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Our education system is purely socialist. People with ADHD are forced to fail or suffer while gifted children
become sterling scholars and our education system points at them to brag they are not a failure. Our public education system is the only one in the world where more school means more failure. Private school is the only real hope for many in this country. We need to revamp everything because every time we waste our tax dollars to improve schools it is the same as flushing it down the toilet!

Teacher | 4:29 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

I have been so impressed with what some of you have to say that I have printed the content to share with Students tomorrow.

MANY WILL BE SURPRISED TO SEE HOW LITTLE THEIR PARENTS AND LEGISLATORS THINK OF THEM. THEY ARE SMARTER, BRIGHTER, AND MORE SENSITIVE THAN YOU THINK.

Brandonbingham | 4:24 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

I am very happy to say that I am no longer a member of the Communist Republic of Utah. I cannot believe how much people talk big about being Republicans and act like socialists. Your governor is a Rockefeller wannabe and your taxes are insane. As a member of the military I was glad to switch my state of residence to Louisiana where I can now save a whopping $1,000 per year in taxes! $1,000 per year! Come on Utah! Truly, the best solution would be to privatize education and evaluate school vouchers. Cut the bureaucracy that flows like milk and honey in your state. It is very simple.

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