If only our voices were heard. Decisions are made with each new administration.

The answer is simple and obvious. Two parts actually. You reduce class size and increase teacher preparation time at the elementary level.

With the wealth of this nation there is absolutely no reason why elementary classrooms should have more than 15 students, with a teacher and an instructional assistant. Combine this with a one to one prep / instruction ratio (each hour with a class equals an hour of prep time), and the USA will not only have the highest literacy and graduation rates in the free world, but the pay off to our democracy that a seriously educated public will give back can not be underestimated.

I use the name olesage when I post. What may I ask is the diff between posting anonymously and using your real (or a real sounding) name? Come on. Grow up. If a post is articulate and intelligently written, why gloss over it just because a real name is not on the bottom. I gave my real name, but there are thousands of us in the US, so it may as well have been anon.

OK, enough of that.

I'd like to respond to Potomaker's assertion of boredom.

I read Savage before I started teaching and it had a profound impact on me, and how I've been teaching for the past 20 years.

To say that Kozol ..."took a simple thesis that money affects the outcome of education and dragged out that idea for 250 pages." Is really not getting the point. The point of the book is that schools separated by a few blocks can offer such different curriculum and resources to it's American born, tax supported students.

The thought of this angers me to my core, and the inequalites inherent in our system are so, so ... hmmm, savage.

No one was talking publicly about this until Kozol came along, and whatever you may think of him or his effect on education, in my book, the book of a seasoned, qualified in the trenches grunt, he is an American hero.

Everything you say is a bunch of crap ... you are the guy who calls Hillary Clinton 'the ultimate evil'.

You're a baiter ... and I took it ... augggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

By the way, use your spell check it's Liberal .. not Librul. Is that funny to misspell it that way? I don't get it. Am I supposed to say it with a southern drawl? Oops, you're just baiting me, a Liberal. Are you a consurvuhtiv?

Dumbass.

Anonymous.

You misspelled possible.

Had to do it. I'm in my 21st year as a teacher. I could respond individually to each and everyone of the writers who have negative comments. Instead I'll just tell you my facts. I don't complain about what I make or my benefits. I make 56,000 a year, if you add in my medical benefits and retirement plan it's more like 70,000. This after 20 years (masters) teaching 5th and 6th graders. I don't get paid for not working in the summer, however I don't have to.

Now here's the kicker. I have NEVER met a parent, grandparent or community volunteer who has helped out in the classroom who doesn't totally appreciate what teachers do .. never. Those who complain, or have a jaded view of what teachers do, just go and spend a day in a classroom. You're allowed to. Your tax money pays for it.

Spend a day, and then tell us what a cushy job it is.

Appear on your show?

How about a non partisan venue, where you can't control the volume of your 'guest', or edit what they say, or talk over them. If you, YOU UNPATRIOTIC WINDBAG, really cared about our troops, or for that matter, the TRUTH, you would make the offer that a real American would, and offer to debate ... Anytime, Anywhere.

But of course you are not interested in the truth, only continuing to mislead your gullible listeners.

Bush = Dear Leader.

Great!

Couldn't be prouder. Proud to be an American, proud to be a citizen of Al's global vision and most of all proud to be a fellow left wing, liberal democrat!

Ah. What could have been?

Wait. What could still be? I know there's no chance, but he really needs to run.

We love you Al.

Their hypocracy, astounding. Hubris, unreal. What they won't say to defend their party, unAmerican.

Who better, Senator Graham to criticize the war than a General who was following orders. That's right. Following orders. Never blame a soldier for doing what they are trained to do, and that is follow the orders of their superiors.

Who knows how much Sanchez voiced his displeasure, or concern before he retired. This I can tell you for sure. Any thing he said that didn't conform to the Rumsfeld / Cheney plan fell on deaf ears.

Thanks for your service General, and thanks for your honesty.

I'm on an opposite Rocky streak of my own.

First my beloved Mets blow it.

Then I go with the Cubbies, followed by the Pads, Yanks, Phils and D Backs.

Finally I'm with Boston. My first winner.

So my prediction.

Rockies in 7. AL may be the stronger league, but the NL is the REAL league.

I agree that the sounds of the game feature was better used last night. However, to play the strategy of a pitching coach a mere thirty seconds after his meeting could be dangerous. Once the opposing team figures this out, then it could be used against their opponent. Case in point. When Apodaca basically told his pitcher to get back to where he was, which was throwing fastballs, this info could have been relayed to the Boston hitters. Message: Sit on the fastball.

Also on a lighter note. The dancing freak spoiled kid behind home plate? Lose him. Not cute .. obnoxious. Not funny ... scary!

I still have the Rockies in 7.

She is staring at me, right now, as I read Salon. While she is stretched out in my recliner. Hope she's comfy.