I have worked for many years as a school caretaker, and have for most of that time felt undervalued., but I know of no group so undervalued as teachers.

It is a miracle that most of them DO retain their sense of humour in the face of attacks from government, parents, and well meaning do gooders who think, without reason, that they could do better.

There is a world of difference between calling a child a failure and telling him that he has failed in a set task. There is a world of difference between calling a child stupid, and telling him he has done something stupid.

I have yet to meet a teacher who is unaware of this difference. I have, however, heard many parents call children stupid, or failure, usually their own children. We live in times when many parents can't be bothered to work with their kids to help them learn, but are quick to complain about teachers when the kids don't achieve.

Let's leave the education to qualified educators, and not hedge them in with more and more trendy ideas from people who haven't a clue what teaching is about.

Don T.