bonnie frank sent the following letter (response sent from mail@cartalk.com).

Education is the only *profession* where the more educated you are, the more experience you have and the more you improve yourself, the less valuable you are.School districts would rather hire a beginning *cheaper* teacher than hire someone more valuable with experience and more education.

Tom & Ray:

I listened very intently as you talked on your show on Saturday about what is an "educated" person. Being an educator, I begin by listing the following comments:

1. Most of the teachers I know (more than 50 percent--I know you like those statistics!) begin their teaching careers with an optimistic viewpoint. They are eager to begin teaching others about their selected topic--science, math, English, etc. Then, through working within the education system, they get beaten down and disappointed. They end up being the "sour pickles" in the barrel.

2. Education is the only *profession* where the more educated you are, the more experience you have and the more you improve yourself, the less valuable you are. School districts would rather hire a beginning *cheaper* teacher than hire someone more valuable with experience and more education. Thus, teachers are literally stuck in the same job for 30+ years. Anyone working at the same place doing the same job will sour after a time. I believe there is a statistic that says that people will change jobs seven times in their career life. Teachers don't get that opportunity.

As you can see, I believe the system, not the educators, are at fault for the state of the education process.

Now, back to the question at hand. An educated person is:

...well read. The more you read, the more you know. You don't know what you don't know.

...considerate/sociable. An educated person has manners, is aware of others and is able to function in polite society.

..aware. If you are aware of your environment, you can work to create a better environment. Someone who is educated reads newspapers/magazine, works the Internet or listens to radio/television. A variety of media inform and make us aware.

..knowledgeable. An educated person is an expert in an area, whether that is physical (as in repairing a car) or mental (as in teaching) or artistic (as in drawing).

..involved. An educated person doesn't sit in an ivory tower watching the world go by.

..can communicate. An educated person has both verbal and writing skills that have an impact on those around him/her.

That's my list. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this very important topic.

Mrs. Bonnie Frank

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