Utah schools need more help from Legislature.

Utah teachers are some of the most poorly paid in the U.S.  Their class sizes are the largest in the nation.  In the years I taught 6th grade, I never had fewer than 26 students (usually 28-30) even though 'official' class sizes were 22.3 or so.  One awful year I had 37 students.  That year I only really got to know the main trouble-makers, and one or two excellent students.  There was no time for individual help, no time for in-depth instruction.  It was classroom management and crowd control.

Our exceptionally conservative Legislature has underfunded schools for years.  Many of them seem to have no respect for teachers.  It is almost like they think we are expendable--what we do could be done by anyone.  Utah has lots of kids and there are fewer and fewer people who are willing and/or able to help them learn.  

The problems won't be solved by one-time bonuses or grants to extend the year for a few teachers.  We need a serious, long-term commitment, and it's not a likely outcome this year.