The New Math: Teachers Share Recession’s Pain.

Looking at the economic situation in the country today, many teachers are afraid of losing their job. Many teachers all -over the district have forgone their step increase, COLA increase and many more to help the district meet their budget, in order to stay employed as the economy is weighing heavily

on the employers. This did not affect only teachers; it is spread across all works of life.

In schools, supplies are low and students are not getting the necessary materials for their learning because of the bad economy and this will in turn affect our students learning. Many district have changed the bus roots and schedule making many students to walk longer distance to school, this gives room for lateness and at times does not give them time to settle down before the next class, teachers are not receiving required training or training are restricted to some few and this will affect the quality of education given to our students. Para-educators positions are reduced just to cover the rising expenses and this will affect many of our students that requires help with their work especially

the ones with accommodation.No one is looking at the impact to our students if these cuts become a reality in our schools; they are only looking at the cost. This will affect the dropout rate that has been a problem in schools. It will also affect students learning and class size.

Now, teachers have given out some of their salary and many of them will go out and get a second job. This will make them not to be committed as before, not focused as many of them will not have enough to support their families. Many teachers will change jobs and there by excellent teachers will be lost. Many teachers will not keep up with the inflation.

On the other hand, this economy is teaching educators to use their natural talents. First, educators are using talents to illustrate an example of cost effectiveness. Giving into to a bank that will allow education systems to hire more teachers is cost effective. It also demonstrates to the students how to work collectively in order to advance as a unit. Secondly, this talent of cost effectiveness shows students that life is a check and balance. One does not have to live in the negative all one’s life. The Pain of this economy produces awareness in the foundation of education to become more cost effective and teach the students to use all methods and avenues of learning. Hence the scales are balanced.

Recycling is now an end result of this economy. More schools are recycling paper and office supplies. Teachers are not as readily to trash copies with errors. Teachers now use these papers as scrap paper. Some educators use the other side of the paper. Teachers are recycling computers in the technology departments as well as cartridges. There is more equity in the system because teaching materials are now being shared and created by the educational staff. The pain of the economy has birth cohesiveness and reality in the education arena.

References:
WINNIE H. (May 24, 2009) the New York Times. The New Math: Teachers

Share Recession’s Pain
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/education/

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?

res=9902E2DA1F3BE532A25757C1A9649C946990D7CF
Alvarez, B., (December 10, 2007) National Education Association,
nea.org/newsreleases/2007,
http:/educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/teacher_salaries_cut_by_inflation#ixzz0GY7doUQG&A
Hiltzik’s.M., (2009) Page One/Column One column from the May 21st LA Times
– republished at 4LAKids A STATE WITHOUT A BUDGET/A GOVERNMENT WITHOUT A

CLUE blog.CORTINES PROPOSAL APPROVED: It includes cutting 2,290 teacher positions in

LAUSD; the union announces protests
http://4lakidsnews.blogspot.com/2009/01/cortines-proposal-approved-it-includes.html