Texas Lays Off Teachers, Spend Millions On Racing - And A Principal Sells Her Shoes

 

As the school years winds down, many teachers aren't sure if they will have a job next school year

 

It's been a tough year for educators. For many teachers and administrators, the school year is ending and they still aren't sure if they will be looking for a job when autumn rolls around. Many states have slashed their education budgets and school districts are scrambling to try to raise money keep at least a few teachers on staff.

 

In Texas, the state has been facing a great deal of criticism for eliminating 100,000 teaching jobs. They cited state budget short falls as the reason for the drastic measure. However, many critics are upset that the state has plans to invest $25 million each year to build and maintain a Formula One race track.

 

The proponents of the race track say that bringing Formula One racing to Texas will increase the state's profits and create jobs. However, Formula One racing, which is all the rage in Europe, is a sport favored by the ultra-wealthy. Other areas in the United States, including Las Vegas have tried their hands at Formula One and have been sorely disappointed.

 

Of course, the $25 million, if invested in education instead of fancy racing, wouldn't pay all 100,000 teachers' salaries. However, it could keep about half or 50,000 teachers with a yearly salary of $48,000.

 

Things are so bleak across the country that a young girl named Jocelyn Lam, a fifth grader in a Los Angeles area school, donated her life savings of $300 to help keep her teachers. She brought her savings in an envelope, saying that she had been saving the money for many years. It was all money she had earned by doing chores and getting good grades. Along with the envelope, she included a handwritten letter saying “I really hope this $300 will help save the teachers that are about to be laid off. I also hope this is enough money to save more than one teacher.”

 

Even though the $300 wasn't even close to being enough to save even one teacher, it spurred a community-wide fund-raising event that has raised over $20,000 so far. Even though the school district probably won't be able to raise enough money to keep more than one teacher, it has sent a clear message to the educators about how much the community values what they do.

 

Another fund-raising project was kicked off in California by Michele Miller, a principal in Sacramento. Budget shortfalls have all but obliterated her school district. In fact the plans are to eliminate every librarian, health aid, bus driver and all 17 teachers. She said that she just couldn't stand by and watch an entire school district be eliminated. So, she looked around and decided to sell her 350 pair shoe collection.

 

Ms. Miller says that she loves teaching and she loves shoes. In fact, she has a huge shoe collection that means a lot to her. However, the students in her district mean much more to her. So, she is placing all 350 pair of designer shoes up for adoption at $1000 a pair. You can watch her YouTube Video and take a look at the contents of her closet. If you are interested in adopting a pair, you can visit her site.

 

School districts might be facing budget cuts and teachers are losing jobs, but you've got to hand it to these dedicated people who are doing the best they can in the face of adversity. I am constantly amazed at the commitment and passion most educators have. I hope that they all find enough money to keep teaching and inspiring the children and communities they serve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think about these creative people? Has your district been dealing with budget cuts? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

 

 

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for EducationJobSiteBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.