PUT THE TEACHERS AT THE HEAD OF THE CLASS

By Gary Davis

Our future depends on it.

But what we need most is more input from teachers and parents, not from school boards and administrators. We need to recruit and retain the best teachers, not see them drawn away to school districts that offer much higher pay and better working conditions, and more influence over school curricula and decision-making.

We need to put teachers ahead of bureaucrats when it comes to pay raises. Teachers are on the front lines of education, working with today's challenges while preparing our kids for tomorrow's opportunities. Teachers are the trained professionals.

Next to parents, teachers know what is best for our kids, and they work hard every day to see that they get the best education possible. But teachers can't do it alone, and they can't help improve our schools if they don't have a seat at the table where important decisions are made. They, in partnership with parents, should have the influence they need over schools decisions, including spending priorities, academic curriculum, standards and discipline.

This partnership will take the politics out of the classroom, and allows teachers to do what they do best -- teach. And then we can put our kids first by putting teachers at the head of the class.