Unbelievable....but true

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Home : 2004 : September : 19

Unbelievable....but true
By urban teacher

I work in a large urban district which besides having major budget problems (mismanaged money) we also have a declining enrollment. This is a district so short of teachers they had literally hundreds of classrooms managed
last year by uncertified substitutes. The solution to the budget crisis and declining enrollment was to lay off teachers!!! The new school year has begun...some teachers were called back to new buildings and new grades. Some regular ed teachers are being asked to work in sp ed classrooms if they want to work. Others are being called back as building subs (for teacher pay). It is not

uncommon for teachers to be moved to new buildings and/or new grade levels once school has started. It is horrible. Why stay??? Where I live, teaching jobs are hard to find. Elementary teachers are a dime a dozen and new college graduates have a better chance of being hired than a seasoned teacher with a master's degree. I always thought my urban district would be hiring...we are so short of teachers. I never thought I would see a layoff (and I haven't in 10 years until now). Other districts are laying off also. The districts that are hiring have hundreds of candidates for a handful of positions.
They don't tell you this in school. In fact, where I live one of the major big ten universities has a master's program for people with non-education bachelor's degrees. One solid year of classes/internship and you are out with a master's AND a teaching certificate!!! I can't imagine doing this in a field that is as saturated as elementary ed, yet, it is being done.