I think it is a spiral. Get taxes and prices up so both parents have to work just to stay even, get the kids in the schools as caretakers to extort more form the parents with the ever looming threat of a strike or sick-out, and keep the cycle going. The liberal agenda, cultural pollution, and even women's lib (don't you work, or are you a useless housewife?) all work toward that end.
I’ve heard it all before: overworked and underpaid. Public school teachers are neither. They work part days and they have many vacation days, sick days and professional development days. Their work year is about 9-10 months. Most contribute a pittance (if anything) to their health plan (”Cadillac” plans, usually) or to their retirement. They can retire at 30 years regardless of their age. Most have teacher’s “aides” (sometimes an advanced student earning “community service” credits. Class size has been reduced to relatively small numbers compared to 30 years ago. There is little accountabilitity (tenure and unionization).
So...why do teachers keep whining incessantly? Are they guilty that they are continuing to screw the taxpayer? Many are shameless parasites who excel at making people feel bad for calling them on their exhaulted situation.