just out of curiousity exactly what do you think a teacher's time and effort are worth? What duties are the teachers you know performing that at one time were voluntary are now being done for a price? And my attitude does not push parents away. I do not talk down to parents or anyone else for that matter. And as for me being someone special you better believe I am. I have worked to earn the money myself to pay for my education, I have raised 3 children on my own and put them through school as well. My problem is with people who think they know what goes on in a classroom BLAMING teachers for their childs failure to succeed. Any one would be welcome in my classroom to observe anytime. I would never tell a parent I didn't have time to discuss their child, however I would expect a parent to make at the least as much effort in educating their child as I do. I spend a great deal of my "free" time in and outside of school looking for ways to improve my skills and enhance the learning environment of my students. Wanting to make a difference in the education of children is why I teach. And unless you have been in a classroom and tried to teach you have no idea what its like. Also whether a teacher spends 8 hours or 16 hours related to their job depends on how well they want to perform their job.