[rouxroux]

Kevin, I taught in a public school system for 20 years, and YES, I spent tons of my own money for supplies and gave free repair service to many of my students who did not have the money to have instruments fixed. It really tugs on your heart around this time of year. I can remember coming back from Christmas break and asking the kids what stuck out in their minds about the holiday...but to have a child come to you and say "I'm happy, we had our power turned back on at our house" knocked me to my knees early in my career. I vowed to do whatever it took to give my students what they needed. Now, I run into them (and their children) from time to time and for one of them to tell me that they remembered me not so much because I was a firm teacher or that they enjoyed my classes, but that I was "one who really cared" makes it all worthwhile to me. Yes, We got to take a $200-300 deduction a few years back on our taxes, but trust me, that does not scratch the surface. I was not a teacher to become wealthy.