Motley,

I am still thinking about and considering the article Yardman posted but since he likes to just throw insults and barbs at folks, I'll let his own "evidence" speak for itself:
"But Erhardt-Eisen said teachers are part of the cultural problem, as well — often lacking the necessary work ethic and professionalism the job requires. She compared her experience in Portland with the schools in Nashville, Tennessee (a state that graduates 86 percent of students).

'Teachers in Nashville Public Schools worked a longer school year, taught 45 minutes longer per day, had 6 report cards (vs 4 here) per year, and a lot of classwork came home weekly in elem school so I knew what my child was learning,' Erhardt-Eisen said. 'My youngest had 2 years at (her Portland elementary school) where almost no writing and very few assessments came home the entire year. We call those her "lost years".’ ”

But, I am trying to honestly understand his viewpoint and see if it modifies or changes mine.