Kiss your job goodbye, teachers!

"Teacher Layoffs- a destructive annual event," by Dave Eggers
March, 22, 2011 in the San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/22/ED181IET01.DTL

Sorry to be the bearer of more bad news, but this article sadly reports that last month 2,800 public school teachers in the Bay area were told they might not have jobs in the Fall. The principal at James Lick Middle School was very happy with the teachers at the school until pink slips arrived on March 15 and 14 of the school's best young teachers were told they might not have a job next year. Morale went through the floor as the teachers had to start looking for potential job opportunities elsewhere.

As usual, the low-paid, over-worked teachers are bearing the brunt of education cuts, as 80% on average of education moneys are devoted to payroll of workers/health benfits, retirement, etc. Sadly, 46% of teachers quit the profession before five years elapse and with the current trend in teacher bashing it shouldn't come as surprise. Low pay, no job security, hard work. Sounds great, where do we sign up? The not-so-hidden side effects also include instability in the clasroom and lack of continuity in curriculum and teaching.

I guess we're just not good people. Unfortunately, this story is all too relevant to our class. God bless all those teachers who might get laid off, but I hope they don't head up this way.