So what's the answer? if you do what you did, you'll get what you got.
It will take dramatic shock waves to change the system, who is willing to take up the cause? If teachers don't put a stop to the spiraling chaos then who can?
Parents who want a better environment for their children leap at the idea of private schools, who wouldn't, who can blame them? I wouldn't send my kids to a public school today.
I was a teamster when they went on strike, it was hard, violent, and relentless. We had to go so far as to stop the country in it's tracks before we could gain concessions. It took every dime I had to hold out and then some, I almost lost my house, many I knew couldn't do it and left the picket lines for parts unknown. The fight went on until the other side knew they couldn't win, even using the National Guard along side every cop in every nook and cranny in the country. That's what it takes to shape America.
If teachers want to work in a civil environment they need to flight for it. They need to stop commerce in it's tracks, force parent to stay home and deal with their responsibility of raising children. They need to stand outside the schools with pickets blocking all the scabs, they need to fight for the future of public education or get out of the way and let human nature take it course. It's been at least 30+ years now since I moved my kids from a bad school district and the system has only gotten worse.
Oh Paddy, regardless of my right wing link, I'm about as progressive as a guy can get,
that link is a HTML of a US Gov stat sheet.
I grew up in a very revolutionary setting building communes and soup kitchen, between attending world class concerts from coast to coast. There are some things that just need fixin, and your wings really have little to do with it.