Too bad you are in this decade. This decade teachers can't say what they want when they teach; they can't even teach what they want. This decade, administrators walk in classes every day to 'check' and demand lesson plans for everything to see if teachers are following the non-negotiable curriculum to the 'T'. This decade, teachers are told what to test and when to test it and the data is instantly, publicly evaluated to determine if they did, in fact, teach what 'the powers that be' determine must be taught. In this decade of the 'Planned Learning Communities', the mediocre teachers reign (with any innovation requiring effort or time getting outvoted). Rogue teachers, who secretly deviate from the team by actually doing something creative and fun (that the rest of the teachers voted not to do) are called on the carpet because they are not a team player.

And respect? Where? Teachers work their tails off in constant 60-hour work weeks and have students who treat them like dirt...and get away with it because the administration refuses to be punitive ('it might hurt their self esteem'...or 'a parent might go over their head to the district if their baby is punished'...or 'it might look bad on the school statistics if their office referrals are high'. Then there are the parents. You know, the parents, who back up their child and blame the teacher. You know, the ones who do nothing to help their child at home, but insist teachers tutor them individually for free when they fail. You know, the ones, who want their child to be the exception and bully the teacher by threatening to call the superintendent if their baby doesn't get special requested privileges that they made perfectly clear in a documented letter at the first of the year. You know, the ones that are angry when their child doesn't get an A when over half the class deservedly made an A,... demanding a conference with the teacher and principal over those grades.

And blog about it?...it's a law suit. You'll end up on the news, fired!

@Pearls_of_Trust - Thanks for your comment. I guess you can tell...I do teach in the public schools, but I have known many who teach in private schools and return to the public sector. Although private schools can set their own standards of acceptance, many schools pay less than the public schools and the restrictions and demands of non-negotiables do not come from the district or state, but from their customers. The parents are the customers...and in a business (which that is what private schools are) the customer is always right.

I actually LOVE teaching. I have won many awards teaching...which I will not enumerate, lest I give myself away, but in every movie based on an excellent teacher who made a difference, there are the other teachers (not as good) who criticize, turn them in for being different, and shun them. The movies are right on target. There are other teachers like me who love to teach. The climate for holding educators accountable in the No Child Left Behind Act, merit pay, etc. is killing the education system and the desire to continue teaching by good teachers.