A lot of teachers I know will openly tell you that a major reason they got into the trade is for all the days off work.

The good teachers, it seems, work pretty hard - even on many of their days off. The profession doesn't really attract the cream of the crop, though, does it?

This is an interesting comment. I have a child with autism. I think there is something I'd like to tell you. For many districts, the money fed to the special education programs actually doesn't go to the kids with special needs. It actually goes into the budgets then gets rerouted to other programs. Our district flat out refused to take my child. Wouldn't allow him into the district, in spite of me paying probably more in taxes than just about any other parent near the school. We had to place him in private school then a charter in another district. See...in our case, our "student" went on to excel to about three grade levels higher than his peers in math, spells better than I do (which isn't saying much). Our local special ed administrators took your view on him. So, I just want to caution you a bit. I detect what could be a little disdain for kids with "special" needs in your comment. The disdain should be aimed at the bloated yentas who run special needs programs, earning huge salaries while flushing kids down the toilet. I personally know about 70 kids with autism. Not one of them has "1-1 assistance". Not one...

And, never, ever say such things in mixed company. There might be a parent like me in earshot who takes it the wrong way and calls you on the carpet. Make no mistake - it's all "wasted spending" when a public school teaches kids.

I agree on the costs of the bloated special needs programs.

I disagree that teachers as a group are underpaid. Some perhaps, majority no.

In my state the schools are open for 180 school days, and teachers attend some number of "professional" days without students.

Those are far fewer days than most full time employees work, and with union protections.

So overall, I do not consider them underpaid, especially when you look at the quality of school output as measured by testing.

Government needs to get out of the business of educating children.

Charter schools seem to be as close to that as we can get at present, and all indications are that the concept seems to be working.

"snuffing out any natural curiosity" - exactly.
The low competence of some teachers does not just result in students learning less, similar to "low productivity" in other jobs. Instead, it has a negative effect on the student, by destroying motivation.

The education system can only be improved by somehow bringing choice and competition into its structure. It works for all other industries.
There is strong resistance, usually with the reaction "but our children's futures are at stake". Even comparing education to other types of business is viewed by some as heartless.

Teacher pay isn't a means to become wealthy. But becoming a teacher is a conscious choice. People know that going in. Also, let's just skim off more income to fund those unions! Oh boy, that's such a great idea! How about at will employment, no tenure, and a review to determine continued employment? I am so tired of encountering teachers who have no business being in front of a classroom of once eager to learn students. Talk about snuffing out any natural curiosity.

And the push for CC in the schools nationwide, which costs all schools/districts more money, with dubious results, is part of that steaming pile. New York, of all places, is pushing back hard against CC.

Many teachers in many school distrcts ARE underpaid. The wasted spending in the schools is cause by government mandated programs for mny "special" groups. many of those "students" will never be productive members of society, yet the schools must provide almost 1-1 assistance or babysitting for these individuals.
Another major issue is the growth of school administrators who do little to further a child's eduction. The growth of the administrative class drains resources for the classroom.

Time for parents to band together and form small groups of home schoolers.