I have a dear friend whose niece is a teacher for 5th & 6th grades. She has students who don't know how to read or write. Per my friend, her niece and the other teachers are not permitted to fail students, so they move from grade to grade. But if those kids haven't learned at this point, and keep getting pushed onto the next grade, when will they learn? Who will teach them, with things being the way they are?

In my younger days I taught, both here and abroad. I don't know if I could do it again, though I've thought of subbing on occasion.