One can think about all sorts of things at the same time. But it is profoundly and disastrously wrong, flat wrong, to assume this carries over to political action. And of course the primary consideration in political action is the availability of forces. We have an embryonic left movement in the U.S., thanks to Wisconsin and the Occupations. In some local areas those Occupations are generating independent activity, often of great promise. But there is no way whatever that this movement (or these movements) at the present time or for some time in the future could have any impact whatever on the selection of teachers or on the criteria upon which that selection is based. This is entirely in the hands of our enemies. It would make more sense to focus on electing a socialist governor of Alabama. At least that would not shatter every principle of working-class solidarity.
Now my suggestion _also_, at this time, remains more in the realm of mere thought. Serious left support of the teachers would require widespread action by the teachers themselves, which seems not forthcoming. (See the comment on teachers unions in Michael Yates's post. There is scattered resistance, however, in local areas, and where such exists it is vital for leftists to give what support is possible to such activity.
A note on the kids: what they need far more than ideal teachers is more pay, mor free time for their parents. Also, discussion of 'education' on this list has pretty much ignored the _actual_ schooling in the U.S. over the last 150 years. That schooling has had three major functions:
1 Warehousing 2 Certification 3 Indoctrination
Carrol