I am a relatively new teacher (6th year) who is just beginning to be able to put into practice and make work the various techniques, methods, technologies and philosophies I have tried to learn.

I am a union member who insists that even terrible teachers deserve at least the due process we give alleged criminals, but I agree that there are some teachers who need to change careers, voluntarily or not.

But it is a fool who thinks that merely ridding school systems of the lower third of teachers is going to solve many problems.

Those fired teachers will need to be replaced, and who will do that? Brand new teachers who may eventually become masters but will not for a few years. And there will always be a new lower third to fire. These are not reasons to retain bad teachers, just an appreciation that doing so will not magically cure education any more than removing the licenses of the lower third of cardiac surgeons will cure heart disease.

Yes, we have brought it on ourselves, partially through not policing our ranks sufficiently, but also through not raising our voices loud enough when our students are denied resources essential to learning: safe schools and also safe homes; school meals and good nutrition at home; school nurses and adequate health care; and laws prescribing wages sufficient to allow a parent to be home when our students are dismissed.

You are right. It is not about us. It is about our students and how they have even less power than we do.

I am willing to accept my responsibility for my students' learning. Are our leaders willing to do the same?