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It is unrealistic to expect an entire profession to be completely good. There are bound to be some individuals who are stressed, who are unkind, who are a bit rubbish at their job, who are in the wrong career.

I think teaching should be an exalted profession, not a picked-on profession.

There are doctors who help people who have done bad things; there are lawyers who defend bad people. I don't think it's unique to my profession.

You see, some lawyers have the talent, have the charisma, but no discipline. They come into court unprepared, without having done their research.

You question, as anybody should, the overarching worth of your profession, right? So that's a question I've often asked myself.

Meritocracy is a good thing. Whenever possibly, people should be judged based on their work and results, not superficial qualities.

I think there is a sort of box-ticking mentality. Not just in the teaching profession. You hear about it in medicine and nursing. It's a lawyer-driven insistence on meeting prescribed standards rather than just being a good doctor.

I think the teaching profession contributes more to the future of our society than any other single profession.

Sure, just like there are bad lawyers, bad doctors and bad politicians, there are people who aren't cut out to be teachers. But by and large, the people who are called to be teachers are passionate about the profession.

What people don't realize is that professionals are sensational because of the fundamentals. The sensationalism has taken over the professionalism.