Comment on George Lucas article

In the article, The Power of Preparation by the George Lucas staff (http://www.edutopia.org/php/article.php?id=Art_789&key=039) it was commented that research on teacher preparation programs "indicates that teacher quality is one of the most powerful influences on student achievement -- more powerful than almost any other school resource and as influential as student background factors like poverty, language, or family status."
I agree with this statement completely! I've had the unfortunate experience of having at least one bad teacher, and because of them, I almost didn't come to college. Imagine if I hadn't. I wouldn't be in this education program, and I would never get to teach. It is one of my desires (wishes) to rid the world of teachers like this, but what with the lack of teachers in the world, schools may have to take those people who are only teaching because they have nothing better to do.
I intend to be one of these teachers of quality, and I believe my practicum experiences here at William & Mary will help. Going to my elementary school is one of the greatest joys (highlights) of my week! I can't wait until I have my own class. I know to expect a lot of work, but I also know to expect a lot of joy!

A comment on "First Year Teacher's" blog

In all due respect, after reading some of your entries, I feel as if teaching isn't really what you want to do in life. I am not you, so of course, I can't say how you feel about anything. I agree with some of your beliefs, such as "kids can rise to your expectations", and according to my educational psychology book so do other people. You commented on "needing to find a happy place", but yet your posts (at least what I've read) are mostly negative or commenting on how someone is wrong and you are right. That may be the case, but if you want to find a happy place, maybe you should post on some of the positive things that occur in your educational life. I completely understand though how soothing it is to vent your frustrations in a journal (or blog will you), so I am not condemning you for doing so; just giving you some suggestion.

Safety in School

This past Friday William & Mary had its last day of classes ("Blowout" to many) for the academic year. This year however there was more police presence and the FBI as well! This led me to reflect on the security of today's elementary schools.
When I was in school, I don't believe I ever perceived it as a place where violence could occur, but obviously, what with the Columbine bombing and other incidents, it can be. I was reading on tapped in one day about a William & Mary student who was in a class where a student brought a knife to school. What do you do in a situation like this? Should we as preservice teachers be trained in this before hand, or is it much like dealing with parents - something you just have to learn with experience.
This also led me to question once again why athletes and performers get paid a lot more money than teachers. The government and everyone else places so much emphasis on education, but yet they don't pay their educators nearly what people who merely play a game get. These new-age teachers are in some cases risking their lives to teach (though I'm sure violence is not that big an issue in most cases). Not only do teachers help raise people's kids, but they protect them as well. And this is not a reason to compensate them more?