[The Urban Sombrero]

Teachers change lives. We've all heard the stories. Teachers are particularly important in areas like eastern Kentucky. That's truth, beyond question. Teachers, like doctors, lawyers, chemists, etc. are trained professionals. They are not above and beyond scrutiny or criticism, but they have a right to advocate for their benefits and salaries. They have a right to defend the value of their profession. I would agree that suggesting teachers are some special class, more noble than all others, is a bit much. However, teachers play a pivotal role in the lives of students, a role that is often the difference between "stuck in a grinding poverty" and a place in the middle class. And, for me, that's also a truth beyond dispute.