More teachers for Maryland classrooms
If there is one safe job to have during a recession, it is being a teacher. They always manage to escape layoffs. That's good for them, but is also likely to be good for schools and kids. It means that those old pros who might have chosen to retire this year or next may stay a few more years. And maybe the teacher who last year might have been tempted to try another profession will stay because the job market is so tight.
Even before the economy slipped, however, school systems weren't reporting as many teacher shortages as they had been the year before, according to a report released last week by the state. In my story today, I quote state educators saying they believe some of the more intensive classroom training that teachers are getting has led to an increase in retention. Enrollments aren't rising, and the teaching force isn't leaving.
I would be interested to know if some teachers are feeling stuck in their jobs because of the economy or whether they are happy to have safe jobs?
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Comments
There's a reason why veteran teachers are "stuck". I retired in 2006. Any teacher who's been teaching 10-15 may feel stuck in their job because the big, final reward for teachers in their pension and health insurance - and there are effective penalties if you leave teaching early or switch school systems. In many counties, if you don't finish your Maryland public teaching career in that county and/or don't have a large # of years in that county, you don't get retirement health insurance (which comes from your school system, not the state pension). And if you switch counties, you are almost always offered a lower pay step than your current one, so odds are you'll retire with less money, since the pension is based in part on your last 3 years salary.
New teachers were still leaving in relatively high rates (the national average was 40% in the first two years), but the gloomy economic forecast will surely cement some into "safe" jobs.
Posted by: Mick | November 4, 2008 9:13 AM
Economically safe, perhaps, but certainly not physically. I have been teaching in/for BCPSS for four years now. For all that we complain, I do have a steady income and good health insurance. As a highly qualified (and certified) teacher I know my job is safe, but at what price? It's nearly impossible for me to transfer out of my current school to a more enjoyable work experience (dare I dream for a city wide job?). Like Mick says, my only option seems to be to move to a new school system and take a downgrade in pay *early* in my career before I wind up getting stuck at TMHS to keep my economically "safe" situation.
Posted by: Brandon | November 4, 2008 9:44 AM