[manaboutown]

I can relate to Buggy on this one. I had some wonderful, dedicated teachers, some gifted teachers, some good teachers, some mediocre teachers, some teachers just putting in their time and a (very) few horrible teachers. Those that stand out and for whom I am especially grateful are my junior high boy's counselor, my band teacher in high school and a dean at my law school. On the other hand there are two abusive teachers in particular whom I will always abhor. As for compensation the teachers in New Mexico where I grew up are poorly paid whereas those in California, for example, are highly compensated.

BTW while in my thirties I ran into the counselor and band teacher and thanked them both. Along the way I have thanked some others, too. However I ran into one of the two horrible teachers when entering a restaurant with my family. He and I looked at one another. I immediately turned my family around and left the restaurant, never to return. My memory of him was that bad. Teachers have incredible power over their students which can be and is used for both good and evil.