Dot32 - as one of the many dedicated and hard-working teachers, don't you resent the fact that the unions work so hard to protect the teachers who shouldn't be there? The headlines end up reflecting poorly on all teachers, and that is not fair. I don't think anything will change until the good teachers, who make up the vast majority, take a stand and start demanding accountability from their peers and their unions. How fair is it when you get the students from Smith's class from the article - they lost a whole year of learning and now you struggle to make that up!