Public education - and public school teachers in particular - have been on the receiving end of criticism and blame for quite some time for a host of ills, many of which are beyond their control. And yet, although there has been a plethora of "experts" proposing and selling their "fixes," the voice of the true experts on education-teachers-has been largely ignored. Let's stop the finger-pointing and look at public education for what it is-a complex system of components and influences that must be acknowledged and factored into any substantive plan for improvement.