Others are used to keep the budget down – hire 2 F-status for a cluster so you don’t need to hire someone full-time. And these people serve at the will of the principal. Think of how much would be save in an entire school of F-status people. Retirees don’t need health care or pensions.

Let’s also think how a decent health care system would impact on the students.

People like Eduwonk and the regressive ed reformers they support – Rhee, Klein, etc. like to say we can close whatever gaps there are through inspired leadership, setting goals, high expectations, removing teachers, etc. Talk about health issues like Richard Rothstein does and you are making excuses.

Teachers in urban areas fullof poor kids who daily face lousy neighborhood health services know full well how their learning is affected. Teachers attuned to social justice issues fight to heal the whole child, knowing full well the achievement gap is about a lot more than teaching reading.

Our FUNDAMENTAL problem is too many kids without enough adult guidance. Your idea makes great sense. The same applies to a sustainable version of KIPP. Young teachers working 100 hours a week is not sustainable. Dividing the job into say four people of all ages is.

The reality, though, is UFT President Randi Weingarten is looking at privatizing the NYC healthcare network, and her prime reservations seem to relate to how big a cut will reach union coffers and a very short-sighted temporary stop on turning over the company. It’s sad Ms. Weingarten feels she can’t operate her patronage mill on a piddling 80 million a year.

Still, it’s remarkable that her myopic vision indicates teachers need what the rest of the country has. Particularly in terms of health care, the rest of the country needs what teachers have, and the sooner the better.

I’d add corporations in science and technology to the list of talent sources. If turning out qualified students is their concern, might as well help out.