[BadBoyBenny]

This is the truth. The teachers in the poorest districts are the ones who deserve the most money. My brother had to student teach at a similar school in North Philly when he was in college. He couldn't do much besides baby sit because he was teaching art to a bunch of gangbangers making threats at him or his property. The work he had to do was worth way more than a teacher's salary.

However, now that he has a nice job teaching at an arts magnate in a rich neighborhood, I'm not so sure if his complaints about not getting paid are valid. If he would do something like contstruction in the summer he could bump his salary from the mid 30's tosomething closer to what most white collar professionals his age would make.

FWIW - I admire your GF, but am glad my brother isn't doing the same thing.