How can we keep our teachers updated? (Score 1)

Speaking as a teacher... Pay teachers competative salaries so that we can attract qualified science (etc.) teachers. It's hard to compete with the salaries people with the same, or even less training, can make in industry. Give teachers the time and financial support to attend conferences, university classes, etc. to keep up to date. Technology and science are changing so rapidly it's hard to keep up. I often attend conference at my own expensive including trading vacation days (I'm at a year round school) so I don't have to call in "sick." At a recent conference I talked to two teachers who had not only paid for the conference, travel and hotel expenses but were paying for the substitute teachers who were covering their classes! See that students have up to date textbooks. Some one mentions the case of not knowing how many elements have been discovered. Would you believe some schools still have reference books that talk about the fact that man may some day walk on the moon?!? And while your are at it, make sure that school libraries have up to date science and technology reference books! Teachers and students need up to date tools to work with. It's hard to teach cutting edge science with 19th century tools! Provide computers with Internet access. Develop web sites and listservs with current science and technology information. Make it easy (and quick) for teachers to find the info they need. Most work long hours after school developing lessons, reading student papers, etc., etc. Well this is my 2 cents worth!!