Wesley Null and Dr. Ravitch wrote this piece as the Texas legislators revise the state's school finance laws."The heart of any school is the teacher. The only way to ensure that every Texas child receives a quality education is to place a well-educated, well-prepared teacher in every classroom. That truth will never change.Labor Department statistics reveal that public educators are leaving the profession at the highest rate in 20 years. Low pay and disrespect are key factors in this alarming decline. The Texas Legislature this session will have the job of remedying the state’s public school finance system. As historians of education, we think some background is helpful...."