Well to be fair- kids are kids, and they have to be pushed a bit. I'm sure if I hadn't had homework to do every night (which kids don't seem to have anymore) or had to learn stuff that I knew would be on tests, then I'd likely goofed off. I had plenty of other things I'd rather been doing- like I was big into ham radio in those days. But these days kids aren't pushed. And teachers don't care. I use to bad-mouth my teachers as being slave-drivers, old battle-axes, etc- but they took their responsibility seriously and were doing their job. But most teachers today are more concerned with the latest gossip in the teacher's lounge than if their kids are getting a good education. Why do you think they are so opposed to merit pay?- Teaching is the only profession I know where one's performance isn't supposed to be evaluated.