Teachers for the most part do a wonderful job of educating and mentoring our children.  But there is a minority within the teaching ranks that behave as if they deplore their job, or worse, dislike the kids.  

A good example of what I am talking about comes from New Jersey where a New Jersey school district suspended a first-grade teacher after parents complained that she had posted derogatory comments about her students on her Facebook page. The Record newspaper reports that the teacher wrote about feeling like "a warden" and referred to her 6-year-old and 7-year-old students as future criminals.

The teacher, whose name was not disclosed, was removed from the classroom this week after several parents who saw the posts came to Paterson School 21 and asked that their children be removed from her class.  Superintendent Donnie Evans confirmed the suspension on Friday and said the district was investigating. He declined further comment because it was a personnel matter.

Teachers really need to either be committed to education or they should find another career.  The impact that they have on children is huge, and their actions, whether positive or negative can stay with a child for the rest of their life.  My own daughter had a teacher who once told the class "I hate math".  Ebony repeated that for several months afterwards whenever math was brought up!  When I was in school I encountered several teachers who acted in questionable ways.  One in particular, my fourth grade comes to mind.  This man used to regularly belittle and embarrass students in the classroom.  He would sit on male students laps as a form of punishment (his weight would crush a kids legs, I know!), and he even kissed one little boy on his mouth IN CLASS in front of all of us!  I realize that my story and the one here about the teacher in New Jersey are not the norm and don't represent all teachers.  However the fact remains that there ARE teachers like this and to what extent is unknown.  

Perhaps basing their pay on performance IS a good idea?  Should attitude be considered as well?  What do you think,?