Bad Economy May Increase Number of New Teachers

by David Safier

Today’s college students looking at the shaky economy may be rethinking their fast-buck career plans and looking for something a little less risky. Jobs in the private sector that looked pretty good a few weeks ago are being cut right and left. If you’re hoping to find an economic safe haven, you start thinking about government jobs with tenure and good benefit packages. You won’t get rich, but you won’t be out on the street either.

Some college educated people who have lost their jobs recently might be looking at a teaching credential as a reasonable alternative as well.

With state budgets taking huge hits, I don’t expect to see lots of new teacher hires, but lots of districts are having trouble filling all their open positions even with their inadequate budgets. Schools in rural areas are always hard pressed to fill their teaching slots. Here in Tucson, the schools with lots of low income students are usually hurting for teachers. And some specialties like math and special ed are always understaffed.

This ill economic wind might have some small benefits to education by creating a larger pool of teachers to choose from.