> The latter requires a very special skill set that can only be described as 'managing psychopaths'. And without exception, every teacher I've ever spoken with

> The latter requires a very special skill set that can only be described as 'managing psychopaths'. And without exception, every teacher I've ever spoken with (including several in my family) has told me that this skill is something you have to learn on the job. All of them, regardless of what route they took to become a teacher, were unprepared for managing classroom discipline. And it took all of them a year or two to learn how to manage classrooms (some teachers never learn this skill). I strongly agree that the licensing is just a way to limit supply. I'm not against unions per se, but in this matter, the teacher's union is a serious impediment to educational achievement in this country. It should be much easier to hire and fire teachers in this country. And teachers should be much better paid.