Travels

The nice thing about being a substitute teacher is that I have no responsibility. This means I can take an extra week off before winter break and head down to Mexico.

While in Mexico, I had the chance to meet people from all over the world, and most often conversation turns to the similarities and differences in our home countries. The conversation that struck me the most was with John, an Australian in IT. I explained that I recently earned a Masters degree in education, but jobs were scarce and I was having a hard time. I told him that I was adding endorsements and hoping to find work next year. He looked at me dumbfounded.

"Doesn't your government figure out the demand for teachers and regulate how many degrees are given?" he asked.

I shockingly responded, "Your government does do that?"

It seems so simple. Teaching is a one track degree. I cannot decide to put my masters towards starting a business, or working at a bank. I need to teach. I am only qualified to teach. Sure, I can tutor and sub, but none of these pay the $54,000 of debt I am currently in.

I know people decry more government regulations, but doesn't it make sense that our country would want to avoid having unemployed, or underemployed people? There is this notion in the United States that if you don't have a job, or you don't have a good enough job, then you did not work hard enough. That simply isn't true. While some places around the world take into account the number of children, schools and money before letting people get degrees, our country does not. As long as the universities are making money they are letting in people.

This discussion lead me to ask whether it really is better to turn people away at the college level, or let them get the degrees and battle it out in the job market? (When I say "better" I mean is it better for the education of our children.) The answer is yes--the more competition in higher education the better the teachers. Currently the country noted with the most successful school system in the world is Finland. In Finland only 15% of those who apply to be teachers are accepted (http://www.cybercollege.com/plume22.htm). Can you imagine medical schools simply letting anyone in, and then battling it out to become doctors? In this situation, the people who get jobs are not necessarily the best, but the most well connected.

Do you want the best person or the most well connected person treating your child's cancer? Do you want the best person or the most well connected teaching your child to read?

Initial Frustration

I am a recent graduate of Portland State University's Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP). I came to my program after a 3 year hiatus from higher education. I moved to Portland after receiving an English degree from Michigan State University. I was responsible; I waited until I was settled and mature enough to take on a teacher role to get my Master's degree. After a year of hard work student teaching and taking classes at the same time, I graduated my program with a 4.0. I had one professor tell me I should think about going on to teach teachers and another tell me I have a great mind. While in the program my cooperating teacher, an excellent educator and mentor, handed over her preps with no fear of my capabilities. I was born to teach. I have known, since at least 4th grade, that it is what I was meant to do, yet I may never get a chance to enter my own classroom.

I am frustrated, angry and sad. The economy is crap; people don't care about public schools and the government is ignoring what it is our children need. In spite of all of this, teacher education programs continue to enroll record numbers of students into their programs. I am now $54,000 dollars in debt with little to no job prospects.

Move you may say. Yes, I live in Oregon-a highly desirable state to live in with few job opportunities. I tried. I applied in Washington DC, Baltimore, Arizona, Utah. I looked at rural communities and urban. Last summer, during the hiring season I sent out hundreds of resumes and applications--each one consisting of an individual cover letter and district specific essay questions. I devoted my life to job searching. Most schools do not even bother to call and tell you that they are not interested. All of my efforts payed off somewhat; I was granted 6 interviews, more than most of my colleagues graduating with me. Every one of these jobs turned me down for a more qualified applicant--a High School Language Arts teacher who had been recently laid off.

I do not blame these schools for hiring others. I understand that they want what is best for their students, and that is generally a teacher with more experience. My question is, why aren't higher learning institutions doing what is best for their students? Currently there are 42 potential Language Arts teachers going through the GTEP program at PSU; near double last year while I was in the program. I can guarantee you there will be barely 42 positions open in the state of Oregon next year, let alone the Portland Metro area. How is this responsible? Why are they allowed to do this? In all of my internet searching, I have yet to find one newsource addressing this problem. I am sure it is not just teachers; however, a Masters in Education is a one track degree. It is not as flexible as a business degree, or communications. I am not qualified to enter any other Masters level position with my degree, so how am I supposed to pay back my debt? It'll be an adventure to say the least.

I am currently subbing and tutoring, neither of which pays well or provides any sort of benefits. I am also working on acquiring a Reading endorsement--a subject in slightly higher demand that Language arts--in the hopes of upping my job prospects next year. I plan on keeping this blog, and updating it with education news from the media and my life. I want to invite other people with similar experiences to share their thoughts, frustrations and ideas.

I want this issue and other frustrations to be exposed and discussed. Even if I do end up with a teaching job next year, I want to work on creating more accountability for colleges and universities. And besides, some days, after subbing, I just need to vent.

I look forward to feedback.
-R