If more teachers were shown more support it could only help drive them towards bettering their teaching.

I think it unwise for anyone of us to undermine the education of children – are they not where we are heading?

Just my two cents, again great post.

Yes, I tip chambermaids, waitrons, cab drivers etc. whose only income often actually is the tips they earn (and often have to share with the rest of the staff), and who really are accountable for the quality of service they provide.

But they typically also don’t have college educations, professional status, near bullet-proof tenure and yearly pay increases linked strictly to seniority rather than actual performance.

I work hard too, and put up with a lot of crap from customers and co-workers yet I keep smiling and doing my job mostly because I enjoy it, but also because if I didn’t do my job I wouldn’t have one for long. Does that entitle me to set up a tip jar on my desk, or a paypal button so I can demand tips as well as a salary for doing my job?

So yeah, a great teacher can make a big difference in a kid’s life, and set them on the road to future success blah blah blah, but there are also a lot of mediocre ones and outright creepazoids, but thanks to the teachers’ unions and their massive propaganda machine, all are rewarded equally regardless of qualification, skill or effort.

But I guess it’s okay as long as its For The Sake Of The Children.

My most favorite gifts ever were a gift card my entire class donated to at my favorite local scrapbooking store, a candy dish that one student made me, and surprisingly, MAGNETS. I use them all the time on my white board and I love the big powerful ones.

Great ideas!