The real argument here is about a basic economic law..... You get what you pay for. Mississippi has the lowest pay of any state in the nation for teachers. If you ran a company, and you paid less than all the competition it would be very difficult to attract the best and brightest employees. Unless they simply had a fondness for you and your company, they will take the higher paying job with your competitor.

I think everybody here understands that better employees produce better products. Teachers are the employees and our children's education is the product. I want the best for my kids. Now, "the best" in MS go into nursing (I have three daughters who are nurses), management, law, or medicine because the pay is so much better. Basically every college degree pays better than education.

<Rant ON>

Hey, Its your children... Hire good teachers (and pay them) or hire the dregs (you know, the ones who can not spell education).
I wonder sometimes..... Mississippi (probably) has the lowest paid teachers in the nation, AND (usually) has the lowest performing students in the nation. Strange coincidence? I don't think so!

<Rant OFF>

Now I am not saying all of the teachers in Mississippi are the dregs (some are). And I am not ranting that teachers NEED a raise. My wife and I have made a good living in education.
But... I do believe that as a state, Mississippi will get what it pays for.