Teacher Shortage...Or Glut?

Jim Kent of Hamilton is a teacher. He works at a private school where he earns less than his counterparts in the public school system. He recently wrote a Letter-to-the-Editor that was published in the Hamilton/Wenham Chronicle [click here to read it].

In it, Jim describes the pay and benefit cuts that he, like so many others, has had to make during the current economic recession. I know Jim, and too many others like him that have been hard hit by the economy. Jim is grateful that he still has a job. More than 317,000 others in Massachusetts are less fortunate.

All across the country people are losing their jobs and are unable to find other work, in nearly all employment categories. The teaching profession is just one that has gone from a shortage to a glut.

Why?

Because the teachers and their advocate unions have steadfastly refused to cut back on salaries or benefits (the way they have at Jim Kent's non-union school) thereby resulting in layoffs in support of the remaining teachers and their incomes and benefits. Nowhere is that more apparent than in Hamilton and Wenham. Last spring, you will recall, the taxpayers said "enough is enough" to 10 years of Proposition 2.5 overrides for the school district and the majority of taxpayers in the two towns disapprove of salary and benefit raises in one sector at the expense of others.

According to the U.S. Bureau of statistics, school systems, state education agencies, technical schools and colleges have shed nearly 125,000 jobs since last fall. At the same time, many teachers that had been planning retirement are staying on due to the recession and many people who have lost jobs in other professions are trying to make teaching a second career or work as substitutes until they can find full time employment elsewhere.

According to the annual report from the American Association for Employment in Education, the nationwide demand for teachers in 60 out of 61 subjects has declined from a year ago (Math is the only exception). In other recent years, more than a dozen subjects had extreme shortages. Neil Shnider, the executive director of the association said, "We don't see a teacher shortage now. The school districts aren't hiring."

Which brings us to the Hamilton/Wenham Regional School District (HWRSD) and current negotiations taking place with the teachers' union. It has been said that if the teachers do not get a contract that maintains or increases salaries and/or benefits they will leave and go find positions in other school districts.

That's highly unlikely, given that the other districts are not hiring for the very reasons mentioned above. It's a hollow threat.

In case the teachers and their union representatives missed the news, here are a just a few recent headlines from the Boston Globe:

"Outlook is grim deep into 2010"

"Stimulus job boost in state exaggerated, review finds"

"Amid budget pain, some states furlough teachers"

"Jobless rate at highest level since '83"

"State jobless pay to end for many"

"Mass unemployment rate climbed to 9.1 percent in August"

"Patrick warns of 2,000 job cuts...asks unions for concessions"

"Unemployment at 33-year high; insurance fund running out"

"A state of economic anxiety"

"2 sheriff's unions OK furloughs"

"As jobs remain elusive, foreclosures rise again (30% in October)"

Let's hope that the HWRSD School Committee can work out a new contract with the union that will be fair in light of the issues that Jim Kent has raised. No one wants to see more teachers laid off... and "budgeting by override" is no longer an option.

To read how other public employees are sacrificing for the good of all, read this inspiring article about our state representatives in the Salem News, posted 11/24/09.