A reader comments:
As the first woman in my family to graduate from college, I am still the working poor, with no health insurance (and several physical ailments) and no pension. It is extremely stressful and disconcerting to have multiple college degrees and still be in poverty. I’m in my 60s and I will never be able to afford to retire, so I have no choice but to work until I die.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Me too. I am a 60 year old, unemployed second-career teacher. I have a master’s degree, and I’m certified to teach several subject areas. I’m enrolled in a master’s level professional development program in e-learning; and I had hoped to get a job teaching online. I had two interviews but no offer.
No health insurance, no income; and no pension for 2 more years. I may lose my home before that.
I think I can die before my money runs out.
Huh?
Didn’t mean to scare you. I am not planning my own exit. I am 62 year old, unemployed, late career teacher with a Masters in special ed. The health insurance runs out in Feb. The state is busily trying to take away pension and health benefits both of which teachers have fully paid. I finally have been accepted into a sub pool. There are so many teachers out that even subbing jobs are scarce. Since I was lucky enough to inherit some money, I figure maybe I will die before all my resources are used up.
Unlike the first writer, I DO have a pension waiting for me in two years. But unless I get an online teaching job, my job prospects are slim. The county I previously taught in has its lowest enrollment in seven years. Teaching jobs have been slashed; and when they DO open up new graduates of the nearby college of education are lined up by the hundreds.
I can’t move. My house is “underwater” by about $30K. I’ve been subbing, but frankly that hardly pays for my food, certainly not my mortgage payment.
I was born into extreme poverty, raised in foster care, never had a family. Went to high school not knowing the words, freshman, sophmore, junior or senior; that is how novel the concept was to me. Now, I am almost 53 working on my 20th year of teaching w/master’s degree and extra certification areas. Still cannot afford to live, just now bringing home $2000 mo. No dental insurance, no disability, need to sacrifice $350 mo to insure son under crappy school policy. I give up. If I can find a cheap hotel where they pay the utilities and insurance, I will live in a dump and raise my child there. He will maybe learn to appreciate having things and I will be able to feed him. Win, win.
Breaks my heart, fills me with outrage and desire to change this inhumane system, go back to Zuccotti Park and Occupy Everywhere until the 1% leave for the Arctic.
@halehawk, you are not alone. I am 57 and also a second career teacher who was non-renewed three years ago. (Nota bene: state of the art FACS curriculum and the backwoods of the bible-belt do not mix!) Master’ degree, certified in three subjects. No luck finding a teaching job. Now tutoring half-time just to stay in the classroom. Thank you, Diane, for making this discussion possible. We need to speak out fearlessly about the damage that ed reform and cuts are doing to a generation of teachers.
As a side note, I have been taking master’s level graduate classes in e-learning at the University of Central Florida. All my classes have been online, and I am convinced that online learning CAN be a great alternative or supplement to brick and mortar classes at the k12 level. They offer students more flexibilty, and fewer distractions than a traditional classroom. However, online students need competent, concerned teachers who can give them personal attention. The hideous practices of K12.com and other online education companies are NOT benefiting students. I may lose my home, but I will not work for a company that shows such a disregard for students.
do you feel okay about a second grader staying home and sitting in front of a computer instead of going to school and learning to work with other children?
Computers are to enrich and enhance learning, not be the learning!!! A second grader needs to ‘play’ with numbers and manipulatives to build understanding of mathematics. He or she needs to experiment with world around him and design and conduct real life experiments to see how things work. He needs to read with a partner, be read to, and discuss what he’s read. He needs to brainstorm, compare text, and discuss what he’s thinking as he’s reading. When writing, he needs to have editing and revising conferences wtih peers and teachers. He needs to hear what other students are writing and thinking, and provide feedback. He needs to listen to feedback and use it to improve his writing. In social studies, he needs to simulate experiences, draw and label maps…In every curriculum area, a second grader needs to work with others to learn!!!
Clicking and sitting at a machine are not the answer!!!!!