Tom Judd's admonition to select and hire only those (teachers) with a sincere concern for students, and not for their own "betterment," though well intended does little to solve the education crisis building in Utah.
As institutions of family, church, government and, yes, some schools crumble around us, some folks avoid real solutions and offer easy answers.More caring teachers are always needed, but the best way to get more bang for our tax bucks is to spend more per pupil like we do with our world-class Advanced Placement students.
Does it follow then that our Utah children must be mediocre because taxpayers allow politicians to hold them and everyone down and back? All Utahns hold themselves down and back when we do not expect our politicians to elevate per pupil spending to a median range or higher.
This will allow our non-AP children to assume their rightful position in the top 30 percent or higher nationally. High scores are for sale; so let's buy them. The benefits will flow to our state by the billions.
If anyone's school has a teacher who has been exploited by bad public policy for so long that he or she is burned out and/or ineffective, then we all must be part of the solution. Someone's caring does not solve this public concern anywhere near as much as someone's dollars will.
Thank them for their service while offering severance, work force assistance and/or retirement. Every teacher should have a 25-year retirement plan, benefits competitive with state and county workers and pay competitive with others similarly situated.
Caring is great, but let's not let it wax cold by giving free rein to the political forces of something for nothing. Our kids are worth it; give them a chance to shine.
Mike Sampson
West Jordan