Dan,

We don't know each other, so I am unsure of why the post that feels rather like a negative attack. Because you don't know me, and you seem to not be aware of the context of Travis and my interaction, let me fill you in.

Travis is a very intelligent, and respected Law Professor (who practiced for years before teaching). He is also the ethics czar for the club. I am a practicing attorney (criminal and constitutional law primarily). We are also friends and are just poking fun at each other.

My father is a teacher, so are a number of other relatives. Both grandmothers and a gradfather were involved in Education. I have several degrees (including my doctorate) and value and respect education.

As for teaching, I have done so. As for my teachers, I had priests and nuns in high school, so pay was never an issue for them.

Teachers should be paid more (so should soldiers, cops, fireman, nurses, etc). We should be spending money on the schools themselves, and getting music, art, and a few other things back into the classroom. I don't mean just throwing cash, but we should be dedicating ourselves to insuring that future generations are prepared to compete in a world economy, and deal with the increasingly technical, and complicated world we live in.

The last comment I made to Travis related to the fact that academics have the oportunity to examine and deal with the law (his and my field) in a way that is perhaps purer, more abstract, and sets the goals to strive for. I represent folks who most people wouldn't want in their communities, and I try to insure the rights that so many young people have died to preseve aren't squandered, or treated lightly. My reality, sadly, is sometimes a dam* dirty reality.

If you are a teacher, thank you, and god bless you. But please treat me with the same respect that I will certainly treat you. I hope you better understand me now, and that we can become good friends, and share this hobby we both enjoy.

If anything in this sounds either nasty or mean, I apologize to you, and to whomever else may read it.