has nothing to do with health, mobility, cogitation, or any physical or mental limitations that come with age.
It is rather assumptions about and discrimination towards folks merely because of a number, that of chronological age.
And picture above shows me older than I now appear, because I no lonver have a beard, and at my wife’s request I color my hair.
Experience this as I approach the beginning of my 9th decade in just under 18 months is in one sense not a new phenomenon for me. As a child and then an adolescent I was in so many ways ahead of my chronological age, for example, having a card in the adult library before I was 11, being able to pass for 18 (then the drinking age in New York State) when I was 16 and for 21 (the age in other states and at NNC 197=64 Word’s Fair) when I was 17. Now,even though I turned 78 in May (which makes me less than a month older than the man just elected President), most people meeting me think I am someplace in perhaps my mid-60s.
But even that is a problem when one is seeking employment, especially as I now again am as a teacher. Let me explain.
I tried retiring when I turned 66, in 2012, but as those who have followed me here well know I have been back in a classroom for at least part of every school year since, including filling in as a long-term substitute in a girls Catholic High School for the 2nd Semester last year. Since we moved from the DC area to our “final” residence, a life-care community in Haverford, PA (a bit more than a mile from where I went to College and less than 3 from where my wife went to prep school), I had expected I was done with teaching. I had briefly explored getting a PA teaching certificate before my MD certificate expired in June, but other than Philadelphia the school systems here in PA are fairly small — even with consolidation required by the state a number of decades back a few decades ago, it is not like MD with only 24 districts, one for each of 23 counties and another for the city of Baltimore. I taught mainly in Prince George’s County, which had over 180 schools, over 20 of which were high schools. The township in which we live has 5 elementary schools, and one each middle and high school. IT can be much more time consuming to find a public school job, and in addition most districts cap for how much experience you can receive credit.
But like when I tried retiring in 2012, I was restless not being in a classroom. Then we got hit with some large an unexpected expenses, starting with a cat about now to turn 16 who has developed serious health issues well beyond those she had when we adopted her 4 years ago. So I began to explore teaching options, primarily in non-public schools so I would not have to go through the process of getting a PA certificate (which I may yet have to do).
There are several job boards for private schools to which I can turn. One is for the National Association of Independent Schools, and the other is for the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (a high school classmate of my wife, now retired as an administrator at one notable independent school, pointed me at that). I have reached out to a number of schools that have posted vacancies for this year, usually long-term substitute positions without benefits & paying perhaps $200/day). In some cases I get no response. In four so far I have had at least a phone or zoom interview, and in two I was invited in to the school. One, for a regular position in a girls Catholic high school, I was the first interviewed. The other three interviewed were in theirn20s and in one case early thirties. I did not get the job. In the other, for a 3 month long term sub position (a male teacher taking parental leave) I was one of two finalists, got to meet the entire department and to teach a sample lesson, which went reasonably well, although they decided to take the other finalist (whose age I do not know). For that position I do not think my age mattered. For the previous, it clearly did, because both cost to the school and the possibility of having someone there for a long time (independent schools often post about the careers, with things like benefits and support for professional development). In most non-public schools I would cost less than someone with perhaps half my experience because I do not need either health care or pension benefits, which together can add up to 20% additional to the total compensation. But even if folks do not know my exact age, it is clear from the fact that I already have a pension and Social Security, and that in explaining my work history that I retired in 2012 that I am older.
The two other positions? One I was interviewed on the phone by the department chairm who really wanted me, but thereafter is out of the loop, as he told me. The hiring authority got changed in the middle of the process, which delayed things, and then they went in another direction. That was a school less than 3 miles from where I write this, and the position had the possibility of being continued after this year — it was total opening. IT however was a middle school position, and while I have 5+ years of teaching at that level, I have been primarily a high school teacher.
The remaining position is a 3 month long term sub for middle school English, which I have taught before, with kids who learn differently, including dyslexic (which believe it or not I am) or with math or other issues. The position had the probability of continuing for the rest of the school year as a building sub, which I was told is almost always necessary every day although the pay is less. In theory I am still pending their, and I have taught special ed students and my zoom went very well, but I thought I would have heard something by now because it will take several weeks to get the necessary clearances and the position starts January 6. It is quite possible they will get someone with middle school English training or experience and/or who has current clearances. For that position my age is not a problem.
I amn registered and able to be hired by schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. I was approved for high school social studies and my materials were sent to the office for elementary schools since grades 6-8 are handled by that office. I was told not to start the process for background checks (tate police and FBI) until offered a job, because those clearances are only good for 6 months. If offered a job before the end of 1s semester the hiring is as a regular teacher, if in 2nd semester as a oong-term sub with no status and lower pay. The pay would be somewhat less than most independent schools (including independent Catholic schools) because (a) amount experience credited is limited by union contract, and (b) union dues are required. However, and this is important, I was told they often have teachers continue well into their 80s, and they know about my experiences in two different Catholic schools. Some of the elementary schools require a PA certificate (which high schools do not) and also require one to be a practicing Catholic (Quaker here, albeit with a certificate from Vatican allowing me to teach religion in any Catholic School in North America, although I have been told I would not as a non-Catholic be allowed to teach theology — too bad, because there is an opening for that right now in a high school a ten minute drive from our residence).
So, for now I am stymied. There are no relevant openings in the Archdiocese right now. I have strong recommendations from the Office of Catholic Education, so if there is an opening they might contact me before I can contact them. There had been one middle school level position listed and I sent all my materials, and the principal said she had just filled the position, and offered the possibility of daily subbing (which still requires all the background clearances. So far I have not applied for such positions, but I will probably begin to do so for some income,
Meanwhile I explore opportunities outside the classroom, but it has been decades since I have done any other kind of work. I am a somewhat skilled writer and a very good researcher, but I don’t have WORK experience doing those things (although I have a number of excellent writing samples whcih if I could get people to look at and be flexible might give me opportunities.
I don’t feel my chronological age. I don’t look or act it either. I’d like to be seen as a person with a skill set and a track record of being a successful teacher (and writer) who still has things to offer in a classroom and in a wider school community. I will get superb recommendations from principals of the two Catholic high schools in which I taught — the man who was my principal for four years ending in 2023 (only because we originally planned to move by the end of year) just told me that he wants to see me back in classroom.
Too many jobs have maximum ages, which I feel is discriminatory. If a person can do the job, why not? Some people are too old for some jobs in the 40s. Others can function well into their 80s. I think I clearly fall into the latter category. But I start to wonder if anyone will give me a chance to prove it to them, or am I now in the eyes of too much of this country simply as detritus that should be abandoned?
Peace.
