RE: Question 1: Quality Education

   I have never heard it said that those who can't teach the other subjects teach the lower grades. That's okay. I can tell you it is a  hard, demanding task depending on the kids assigned to you. You are absolutely right that K-2 sets the foundation for later performance. First grade is the most important year of any other. KIds learn to read in first. It is imperative that this window of opportunity is not missed. They must leave first grade with the most solid foundation possible in reading and writing. Ideally, at risk kids should loop to second with the strongest teachers.
   Many children are denied access to a quality education simply because of self-serving practices within elementary schools that would/could be quickly and easily changed if specific policies were mandated and implemented. First, the children need to be in school. Attendance policies need to be common knowledge to parents, teachers, and administrators. They must be implemented and followed. Second,  requests by parents for a specific teacher must take backseat to other more important considerations. Otherwise, classes become models of the segregation already occuring in society at large. The haves start traveling with the haves in K and first grade. It needs to stop. Third, administrators need to stop being afraid to offend teachers. They need to monitor what is going on in classes on a regular basis. Are standards being taught? How? What are test results? Which children are struggling?  Fourth, unions need to stop protecting teachers who can't produce results.