and reminder that the opportunity cost of a few days’ strike is far outweighed by teachers being overworked to the bone without adequate compensation or psychological support, resulting in the best teachers weeding themselves out of the field altogether.
I would say 10 years ago it probably would have been mostly a pay issue. Now, all the teachers I know, a raise wouldn't be enough to right the ship. Teaching to the test, no child left behind, the ever increasing behavior problems with no real way to stop it, the list goes on and on.
This is spot on. A family member of mine is a high school teacher and faces everything you laid out. I'd add the seemingly constant threats of lawsuits and violence to further illustrate the untenable atmosphere.