Torben demonstrates perfectly ...

Take your politics somewhere else. This message board is to talk about the show, not politics.

With sincerest apologies to Torben, I've now met Flemming in SE02 EP04. Yeesh! He makes Torben look like teacher of the year.

As someone whose parents were public school teachers who got to know each other when they were officials in their local EA, I attribute your remarks to ignorance. If you spent any amount of time in our schools or talking with (and listening to) teachers, you wouldn't make such comments. If you worked the decades I've worked in non-union corporate America, you'd know that there are Torbens (people who do the bare minimum) everywhere.

To imply that American teachers are lazy is absurd. I've never known a group of people or profession nearly as dedicated to their jobs (or serving their community) as teachers--perhaps librarians. While far rarer than Rita, I can remember my parents expressing anger and frustration with their students' parents. One time after spending 45 minutes (a very long time for an unpleasant, tedious conversation) trying to be helpful, patient, and diplomatic on the phone, my dad finally let loose (much like Rita might) and said "Now I know why your son is so stupid. He's following his father's example." They don't do it for the pay or the gratitude. They do it for the kids--something you clearly don't understand. The few teachers I've known who are similar to Torben got that way because they cared a great deal and were bullied a few too many times by parents while incompetent administrators turned away.