The dockworkers, mechanics and general repairmen I deal with daily do not own the monopoly teachers have on eddicashun. OK, dockworkers were a poor example, but if my mechanic charges me a large sum to screw up a job, he will never get any more of my money. If the public schools fail in their job, I at least have the alternatives of private school, home-school, or tack-on tutoring such as Sylvan, BUT the bozos I fired still collect my money for not doing any work at all on my child.
One of my favorite bumper-stickers on this topic read "Teachers Need a Raise, Now!" seen on a Cadillac. Call your next case.
I think you have not been around public schools much.
The problem with public school is not the salary that teachres are making. The problem is with poor management by the school boards, and the school administration.
They make stupid policy changes.
They close schools without concern about the impact on students.
They'd rather have a shiny new school where kids are not learning than an older school where kids are learning.
They make curriculum changes every year, and waste money on new books.
They don't support discipline in (or out)of the classroom, so teachers have to deal with bad behavior and try to teach the good kids.
They are more concerned about getting bond money to build new schools than in teaching the kids in their schools.
There are way too many administrative jobs that do nothing, and they are way over paid.
I have not even begun to mention the impact of having children of illegal aliens in the classroom.
Lots of teachers are really trying to do a great job, but their work is impeded by incompentent and greedy administration.