Eighty percent of US school districts are prepared to eliminate a total of 275,000 jobs jobs in education next year across 49 states. There will also be a hiring freeze next year, so all those college grads coming out doe eyed with ambitions of teaching America's youth – they'll be jobless, too.
"Faced with continued budgetary constraints, school leaders across the nation are forced to consider an unprecedented level of layoffs that would negatively impact economic recovery and deal a devastating blow to public education," said AASA Executive Director Dan Domenech.
More depressing still – the American Association of School Administrators believe that the projected job cuts in the education field between 2009 and 2011 will exceed the jobs created by the government in that same period. That means the money we pay for stimulus now will have ultimately done little for these people.
The cuts are projected to be so deep, it is going to raise the average student-to-teacher ratio from 15:1 to 17:1. And if you're in a district that's not going to be letting anyone go, you're probably in a district that's not going to be hiring anyone.
This means that teachers lost in this market will likely be gone for good. If anyone remembers the massive layoffs of nurses in the US and Canada in the 1990's, then it's reasonably easy to understand why TODAY we are still facing nursing shortages. (That's a verifiable FACT)
"This survey complements the results of our latest economic impact survey to truly illustrate that schools have yet to feel the economic relief and stability that is appearing in other sectors," said Domenech.
We need a second round of stimulus, which has saved millions of jobs, but has run out for state governments that have already been cashed strapped.
Call it "A booster vaccine against the recession." Sell it however you want to – but if we don't get it, and get it soon, we will lose Teachers. We will hemorrhage fire fighters and police.
We will return to square ONE with the most important asset in this country searching for JOBS in other fields.
Contact YOUR representative!
Contact YOUR senator!
Let the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor (George Miller phone (202) 225-2095) and his Senate counterpart (Tom Harkin phone 202-224-3254) know your concerns!
Call Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's office! (202) 401-3000
Please be polite! – I know you will be. You're a community of caring people and I know you'll do the right thing!!
Read it yourself:
http://money.cnn.com/...
http://www.edweek.org/...
http://www.mlive.com/...