Here in NJ they are viewed as parasites, not victims, especially since we lost so many good jobs that allowed people the luxury of ignoring what a huge scam public schools had become. Now taxpayers earning half of their previous wages are looking long & hard at what their employees (civil servants) are paid, and they are disgusted.
Teachers often have relationships with either other teachers or other government workers because they have become so estranged from the realities faced by the people who pay them (and have an enormous sense of entitlement to boot).
There is an adage in business I cannot dispute after 40+ years in the fight...
Those who cannot do...
Teach...