  |
|||
|
|
|
||
|
Posted by Barbara Pytel Jun 9, 2006 |
Nevius states that not only is there a teacher shortage looming but we are losing our top professionals due to retirement. One-third of experienced teachers are expected to retire in the next ten years. These retiring teachers are the most highly educated in the history of U. S. education.
Schools are cutting costs in new ways. One cut is to give teachers a boost in pay and allow them to find their own health insurance. This would free the school district from providing health insurance. One district took this option. More take home pay sounded good initially. What happened is a nightmare. Private health insurance is such a big item for families that many of them actually have less money in their pockets than before.
Some teachers find themselves single, $32,000 in debt with educational loans, have difficulty finding private insurance because of a pre-existing health condition, and must continue to take more classes to keep their certification. They feel like they are actually paying money to teach. Many schools are in such a financial condition that they may not be able to keep the doors open. The answer is to appropriate more money to schools but no one wants taxes raised.
Nevius says, "Education is the Titanic."
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.