Bill Cosby's Remarks on Teachers

Bill Cosby made headlines last week after giving a speech in Los Angeles about education, with news outlets reporting that he had criticized teachers and parents for not doing enough to help kids. Specifically, reports said he chided teachers for not being able to explain to children why courses like English and Algebra are important. But in a recent interview with Teacher Magazine, Cosby—who has been outspoken in recent years about racial achievement gaps in education—said his comments were taken out of context. Rather than attacking teachers, he said, he meant only to urge them to explain to kids why they love the subjects they teach.

What's your view? Was Cosby knocking teachers? Were his remarks about them valid? What sort of impact does Cosby have on the education community?