This is an exciting time. Classes are ending for university and college students. These soon-to-be recent graduates will be looking for work and putting to use their acquired skills. It is also a time when the harsh reality of finding work intrudes upon the process.
One example is a recent graduate in education. She is in the top five of her graduating class. She has gone through the interview process with some campus recruiters who are looking for staff. The few jobs that have been offered are rural and the pay scale is much lower than work in the city. With student loans to repay, maximizing earnings is a necessity. There are simply few teaching jobs available. The present staff of schools have a very low turn-over rate and there are experienced teachers returning to the work force.
Therefore, this qualified teacher has secured other work. She will be working as a grocery checkout cashier for a national chain. She will be working some shifts and, sometimes, there will be weekend work. However, she will be earning more than what she would as a teacher and the work benefits are much better. It certainly is not what she was trained to do but it is work. And it is work that compensate her well for her hours.
It is a sad commentary about cultural values when the person checking out the groceries - the eggs, bread, milk - is paid more and has better work benefits than the classroom teacher who educates our children. She will be wonderful at her new job - and some kids will miss having an eager, wonderful teacher.
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster
