The benifits of the Catholic school education, or any parochial or other private school for that matter, have long been known. It's a simple math formula. Smaller classes + higher discipline + more parental involvement = better schools for both students and teachers.
The number of Catholic schools closing their doors permanently has been alarmingly high. However, there is evidence that Catholic schools are making a comeback. Though the number of wealthy investors have been shrinking, more and more dioceses are focusing on stewardship, and more families in total are investing and making donations.
Between this, the idea of free tuition at community colleges for laid off workers, and the idea that more college students and "second-career" teachers will enter the workforce for the job security, the future of the education world is looking to be a bright spot in dark times.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Free Tuition for Laid Off Workers?
The Post-Gazette in Pittsburg published a nice article, today, that gives some hope to displaced workers. Pennsylvania senator Bob Casey has proposed a piece of legislation that would affect higher education by pushing for free community college location for workers who have been laid off. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09097/961019-53.stm
I don't know about anybody else, but I would like to see a piece of legislation like this pass. A better education can really make it easier to find a job, especially in an economy like we're experiencing right now. Perhaps this could also lead to more "second-career" teachers, since starting at a community college can lead to transferring to a four-year school. This, of course, would help the teaching shortage.
I don't know about anybody else, but I would like to see a piece of legislation like this pass. A better education can really make it easier to find a job, especially in an economy like we're experiencing right now. Perhaps this could also lead to more "second-career" teachers, since starting at a community college can lead to transferring to a four-year school. This, of course, would help the teaching shortage.
Meanwhile, In the UK....
Ed Balls, the Children's Secretary in the UK, has made the announcement that history will remain part of the curriculum. The made the announcement at the Associate of Teachers and Lecturers Conference, saying that information technology classes, centering around communications devices such as Twitter, will not replace history, but simply be added onto the curriculum.
The BBC story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7986292.stm) does not, however, tell how this even got started, other to say that it was all a large misunderstanding.
The BBC story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7986292.stm) does not, however, tell how this even got started, other to say that it was all a large misunderstanding.
Teacher Shortage
The education section of the NY Times reported on a teacher shortage, today. The article says that over a third of the nations teachers will retire over the next four years, because many school systems are encouraging teachers to retire while still in their mid-fifties. Now, my mother-in-law is an English teacher at a community college in the St. Louis area, and I don't have to ask her how she feels about this. She dreads retirement, and probably won't retire until she absolutely has to.
The article also says something most of us already know. Many new teachers are leaving the field within the first few years, mostly due to low pay and frustrating working conditions.
On the other hand, the Times also seems pretty confident that the teacher shortage will be reversed by the bad economy, since the teaching field offers high job security.
They also have a nice little graphic entitled "When A Million Teachers Retire." It shows a map of the US and the percentage of teachers over the age of 50 in each state. Here in Missouri, we seem to be on the low end. Our percentage of teachers over 50 is between 40 and 45%. West Virginia looks the worst. Their rate is between 60 and 65%. I question the accuracy of the map and percentage rates, however, because it doesn't say whether they included only teachers in the public schools, grades K-12, public and private schools, or public schools, private schools, daycares, and universities.
The entire article can be found here.
The article also says something most of us already know. Many new teachers are leaving the field within the first few years, mostly due to low pay and frustrating working conditions.
On the other hand, the Times also seems pretty confident that the teacher shortage will be reversed by the bad economy, since the teaching field offers high job security.
They also have a nice little graphic entitled "When A Million Teachers Retire." It shows a map of the US and the percentage of teachers over the age of 50 in each state. Here in Missouri, we seem to be on the low end. Our percentage of teachers over 50 is between 40 and 45%. West Virginia looks the worst. Their rate is between 60 and 65%. I question the accuracy of the map and percentage rates, however, because it doesn't say whether they included only teachers in the public schools, grades K-12, public and private schools, or public schools, private schools, daycares, and universities.
The entire article can be found here.
Ground Rules
While this blog is mainly intended for my students and their parents, I realize that anyone can view it, and I have also set it so that anyone can post a comment. As such, here are the rules for posting a comment.
1) No swear words! This blog is based in education, and is meant for the high school level.
2) No "flaming." A flame is a personal attack against someone. It is rude and childish. Please do not do this!
3) If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Our mothers taught this to us as children, and it still holds true! If you must criticize, please do so in a kind way. Critiques are meant to be helpful suggestions, not to bring anybody down.
4) Remember that there is a live person who is reading the post. If you wouldn't say something to a person's face, please do not post it in the comments.
5) If there is a miscommunication, please do not let things get out of hand. Keep in mind that sometimes, text can be difficult to interpret, especially the tone. If you mean something to be a joke, please make sure others know it! Smiley faces, such as :), :D, :P, and ;), take just a few extra characters and an extra couple of seconds to type, and they can really help to alleviate a situation if text might be misread.
6) Please do not post any links to a site that has swear words, pornography, violence, or anything illegal!
7) Copyright laws still apply in cyberspace. Please, either get permission to post something from another website or at least give credit.
1) No swear words! This blog is based in education, and is meant for the high school level.
2) No "flaming." A flame is a personal attack against someone. It is rude and childish. Please do not do this!
3) If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Our mothers taught this to us as children, and it still holds true! If you must criticize, please do so in a kind way. Critiques are meant to be helpful suggestions, not to bring anybody down.
4) Remember that there is a live person who is reading the post. If you wouldn't say something to a person's face, please do not post it in the comments.
5) If there is a miscommunication, please do not let things get out of hand. Keep in mind that sometimes, text can be difficult to interpret, especially the tone. If you mean something to be a joke, please make sure others know it! Smiley faces, such as :), :D, :P, and ;), take just a few extra characters and an extra couple of seconds to type, and they can really help to alleviate a situation if text might be misread.
6) Please do not post any links to a site that has swear words, pornography, violence, or anything illegal!
7) Copyright laws still apply in cyberspace. Please, either get permission to post something from another website or at least give credit.
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