March 12th, 2009
Get Smart: Turning Point for Education?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is a very handy Web site for occupational info of all kinds, showed that there were only two industries that actually added jobs in January of this year: private education and health care. The February numbers are out, too, but they didn’t show growth in education, so we’re going to ignore those for now (incidently, health care continued to show growth–thanks to stimulus packages coming down the pike, it looks like health care is a solid career choice). Education is a big part of this country’s infrastructure, and improvements via stimulus packages have been getting some heavy coverage lately.
So You Want to Be a Teacher
Be careful; teaching is often portrayed as more fun and games–and less work–than it really is. Simply because you get three months off a year doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park. I’ve taken home more than a few boxes full of papers to grade, and I’ve dealt with the parents that think their child can do no wrong, even though said child was lying to me and to them. It’s not a job that you can ever, ever, ever leave at home. If you’ve got what it takes–if you’ve got that certain something that makes you want to teach–then go for it. Now is a great time to go get your degree and not just because of the stimulus money. You’ll be in good company, which means well funded programs, even online.
Speaking of Funding
Out of the $787 billion that is the stimulus package, $100 billion is going to education. Schools are looking forward to getting this, no doubt about that. Those looking to become teachers should also be happy about this. This isn’t bail out money; it’s funding that schools, from elementary to university, needed. Having grown up with my mother on the school board and my father in the classroom, I heard about this constantly. It seems to have gotten worse since then. This money will take the stress off of administrators, who, in turn, will take the stress off of teachers. It’s great all around. So, if you’re looking to change careers–or if you’re looking to start one–now’s a great time to get some education education. Let’s just hope you can get some funding of your own.
Despite the reports about school district layoffs you’ll read about from time to time, education is always a good bet for employment. Like healthcare and government jobs, they are recession-proof because we’ll always need teachers (and public schools are government-funded). Even in a recession many people turn TO education (community colleges, training programs, graduate school) so there are still opportunities for those in education. Degrees or certifications don’t limit you to careers in education, if you do have trouble finding a job or you decide to switch paths, you’ll be able to do so.
Comment by Lynn M — March 13, 2009 @ 8:25 am