I don't differ with you on that one. My point was that when tea-partier's children are affected by the question of raising taxes or perceiving that their children's education is being diluted, they get quiet in a hurry.

The problem is neither with the teachers or the parents--other than the fact that they are all voters. The teachers will "get all they can get" (more pay for less work) just as any other employee, public or private, will try to do. The parents just "want the best" for their kids, with little thought of the cost or attention to the details. The problem is with the elected officials who refuse to consider the idea of reduced spending, increased efficiency or better ways to accomplish the same high quality education and let the situation become as heated as it apparently is in Illinois, my birthplace and home state for over forty years. Then, their kneejerk "solution" is to cut the quality of education, knowing that the response will be what is occurring now in Illinois. Spineless.

I can tell you one thing for sure, there are no demonstrations regarding the need for increased taxes OR tea party meetings in my hometown on Chicago's North Shore. I don't think the voters have done anything other than vote favorably for every school board referendum for the last 40-50 years. School taxes comprised about 92% of our very high tax bill when we lived there. The cost per student was up there with private schools. But the test scores and college acceptances to really good schools is right up there with the best private schools, as well.

I have attended many school board meetings over the years and the parents expectations--no demands--for the highest quality education for their kids is palpable. In my hometown, at least, I think the parents are getting their moneysworth.