Here is one I heard today. It is about The Change and the responses to The Change----better known as the Sustainable Revolution.
A young fellow that my brother knows is presently in college, I believe just completed his first year. He was setting up to be a elementary teacher and I believe he would be a good one. But it seems that in the last couple of years there has been a general attack on public employees, particularly teachers. It has been stated here in Wisconsin by our illustrious uneducated Governor that teachers are over paid and have too may high-end benefits.
A young fellow that my brother knows is presently in college, I believe just completed his first year. He was setting up to be a elementary teacher and I believe he would be a good one. But it seems that in the last couple of years there has been a general attack on public employees, particularly teachers. It has been stated here in Wisconsin by our illustrious uneducated Governor that teachers are over paid and have too may high-end benefits.
In addition, tax revenues are down due to the recession that we are clearly still in, no matter what anybody says. Thus, schools are finding themselves very short of money to operate. As a result of both pressures, teachers have had to take cuts in benefits and in some cases wages. I will admit the the cuts have largely been to the standard year on year increases they have been getting, but not entirely. Never the less, teachers are under attack and it has financial implications.
I had the opportunity to see the school budget this year and with it a professional projection of anticipated revenues for the next five years (above). It is a declining curve that simply says that while the needs are there for education, the amount of funds available to run the system will decline.
In other words, it is a clear indication that the standard of living as pertaining to education will drop as will teacher wages.
As a result of this turmoil and pattern, the young man mentioned has chosen to look for another occupation thinking that in order for him to have the good life (business as usual or BAU) he will have to look elsewhere.
The problem is that due to the Sustainable Revolution everybody and every job will have to change to a lower level and BAU will not be available. In my view, he would be better off staying in education, an occupation that will always be needed and always be rewarding. Some how we have to learn how to except the idea that BAU is not in the future. It will be a tough haul because folks want it bad.
No comments:
Post a Comment