The Wall Street Journal said it best: "That's a jolt to people drawn to teaching in part for its recession-proof reputation." It's also a jolt to students who ultimately pay the price.
The current recession has forced tough decisions on everyone. What was thought to be a nearly untouchable industry, education, has been touched—wounded even. Although not as deeply cut as some industries, education facilities are going to feel the increased pressures of running with fewer personnel this season, which unlike other industries will directly affect our children—for several years.
Even if the economy rebounds, springboarding forward with budding opportunities later this year, schools will have missed out on brilliant, young teachers. Recent education grads ambitious to start their careers now, yet finding themselves continuously hitting dead ends, will find new careers—leaving their dreams of joining the education field behind them.
Of course there will be a new class of graduating college seniors this year. They too will be eager to dive into the world of education. What is lost from this year's group of potential educators however, is just that—a pool of talented young teachers forced to venture in other directions.
In some harder-hit districts, children will also be missing out on the experience and guidance of tenured teachers. Blogs and forums are overflowing with stories of teachers waiting to be called back, those that have been pushed to take retail positions in the interim, and of many who are now skeptical of future job security which can possibly lend to a future pool of teachers who lack confidence.
Who just might be benefiting from the massive layoff's are those in low-income public schools. Teach for America Inc., a nonprofit organization that places recent grads in low-income public schools, is reporting a 42% increase in applicants this year. They plan on placing 4,000 new teachers this year.
