Crisis

[Bonobo]

I have been affected by crisis, too. People have less money so they cut down on education expenses and spend less on English courses, private lessons etc. My earnings dropped by 10% or more. E.g., I was made redundant at university where paid weekend studies (the best income so far) were dissolved due to low intake. The competition is die-hard: teachers, expats and free-lancers drop their demands and charge ridiculous money, e.g., 15 zlotys per 60 minutes.
It is good for clients but not too good for professionals. If I wasn`t such a good teacher myself, I would probably be unemployed by now.

[jeanne]

Jun 1, 2013 22:32:07 GMT 1 Bonobo said:

I have been affected by crisis, too. People have less money so they cut down on education expenses and spend less on English courses, private lessons etc. My earnings dropped by 10% or more. E.g., I was made redundant at university where paid weekend studies (the best income so far) were dissolved due to low intake. The competition is die-hard: teachers, expats and free-lancers drop their demands and charge ridiculous money, e.g., 15 zlotys per 60 minutes.
It is good for clients but not too good for professionals. If I wasn`t such a good teacher myself, I would probably be unemployed by now.

I just found out two days ago the job that I have held for the past 14 years is being cut. I'm not being cut, but the job is. I am being sent to a different level school to work with an entirely different population of special needs students than the population with whom I have 14 years of experience. Not only that, but our school system is "restructuring," so they are renaming the position I hold and will be paying people who do the same work I do considerably less money.

[Bonobo]

Jun 1, 2013 23:37:36 GMT 1 jeanne said:

I am being sent to a different level school to work with an entirely different population of special needs students than the population with whom I have 14 years of experience. Not only that, but our school system is "restructuring," so they are renaming the position I hold and will be paying people who do the same work I do considerably less money.

So far you have worked with young kids like 10 year olds, and now what is the age proposed?

It seems that cuts in education are universal everywhere. Is it connected with demographics in your area? i.e. less students who choose your school? It is so in Poland that local councils reduce state teachers` full-time positions to part time due to low number of school children. Schools fight for every head.

[jeanne]

Jun 2, 2013 9:32:04 GMT 1 Bonobo said:

Jun 1, 2013 23:37:36 GMT 1 jeanne said:

I am being sent to a different level school to work with an entirely different population of special needs students than the population with whom I have 14 years of experience. Not only that, but our school system is "restructuring," so they are renaming the position I hold and will be paying people who do the same work I do considerably less money.

So far you have worked with young kids like 10 year olds, and now what is the age proposed?

It seems that cuts in education are universal everywhere. Is it connected with demographics in your area? i.e. less students who choose your school? It is so in Poland that local councils reduce state teachers` full-time positions to part time due to low number of school children. Schools fight for every head.

I am being sent to the high school...

Here it is happening because of how the schools are funded. Each town or district raises the money for their schools from local property tax. Because of the poor economy, residents, especially those with no children in the schools, do not want their taxes raised, nor do they want to keep administrators who are spending a lot on the schools. To keep their jobs, administrators must cut budgets to the bare bone (not good for students!). This translates to cuts, cuts, and more cuts, both in personnel and in rates of pay.

[uncltim]

I'm saddened to hear of so many struggles. All I can really add is that anything horrible that happened to me ended up actually being for the better. I stopped working about a year ago. I made the decision to return to school and finish a degree that I had been working on for several years. I get a lot of job offers through LinkedIn,(damn head-hunters!) but I think it's more important for me to finish what I've started. I would add that years ago you never saw a Ph.D. in the classroom, today they are in every classroom. No adjuncts, no assistants, All Deans and Ph.D.'s Academia went bust in the same way that the housing market did I suppose.

[jeanne]

Jun 4, 2013 0:24:34 GMT 1 uncltim said:

I'm saddened to hear of so many struggles. All I can really add is that anything horrible that happened to me ended up actually being for the better. I stopped working about a year ago. I made the decision to return to school and finish a degree that I had been working on for several years. I get a lot of job offers through LinkedIn,(damn head-hunters!) but I think it's more important for me to finish what I've started. I would add that years ago you never saw a Ph.D. in the classroom, today they are in every classroom. No adjuncts, no assistants, All Deans and Ph.D.'s Academia went bust in the same way that the housing market did I suppose.

I think you are right, Tim. It's the "trickle-down effect." It's all part of one huge deterioration of the economy and the world situation!

[Bonobo]

Tim, don`t be saddened. That`s only money. As long as we are healthy and stick to our families, money doesn`t really count. I started the thread not to complain and expect pity, but simply to inform you about certain things being changed. That`s all.

PS. I am happy that you are doing well.

[uncltim]

I never pity the Polish. I know they are strong people. They just like to drink too much.

I have a good life Bo. It didn't start out that way, but I made good choices and worked hard and smart.

[pjotr]

That is good to hear Tim! I think the situation is critical everywhere with the cut backs. The thing Jeanne is facing in the US Dutch teachers face in the Netherlands as well. It is more difficult to get a new job today or keep your job. But Poles, Americans and Dutch are hard workers and manage to survive. Even in this time of soberness and less supply and demand. I hope in time the economy will recover and people will experiance progress and optimism (positive moods) again.

[pjotr]

The press feeds negative news to the people. If people ignored that pessimistic message and focussed on their own environment, family, community and region, things would be better in the world. I admid I have spend a lot of time of my life following and analysing national and international media. It brakes my heart to see that there is no good -independent- research journalism in the world left. There is no critical press. And press and media are controled by economical, political and lobby interests. (On all sides)

[jeanne]

Actually, now that I have been working at the high school for a few months, I must admit that though it is different from elementary school, I do like it. I especially like that I don't have to take my turn at recess duty like I did in elementary school. Recess duty is fine when the weather is mild, it's nice to get some sunshine and fresh air, but when January comes, it's no fun standing out in the freezing cold with snow underfoot!

[Bonobo]

Jun 1, 2013 22:32:07 GMT 1 Bonobo said:

I have been affected by crisis, too. People have less money so they cut down on education expenses and spend less on English courses, private lessons etc.

Luckily, I get more hours at my state school. I have been running 1.5 full time schedule since one of teachers took two maternity leaves, one after another.
So, there is balance in nature. Lose some, gain some.

[jeanne]

Oct 10, 2015 20:32:37 GMT 1 Bonobo said:

Jun 1, 2013 22:32:07 GMT 1 Bonobo said:

I have been affected by crisis, too. People have less money so they cut down on education expenses and spend less on English courses, private lessons etc.

Luckily, I get more hours at my state school. I have been running 1.5 full time schedule since one of teachers took two maternity leaves, one after another.
So, there is balance in nature. Lose some, gain some.

My contribution to helping with the crisis is that I retired! Now a younger person can have my job, and I get to do what I want each day!

[pjotr]

Dear Jeanne

You are a great person. I hope you are enjoying your time with the things you like to do! Like reading the books you are interested in, enjoying nature, your children and grandchildren.

We spoke about Etty Hillesum on the other Forum. And about Edith Stein, and your other reading and interests. As a retired person you can enjoy the great works of world literature, nature, human contacts and spirituality.

I believe that people after retirement enjoy life to the fullest. They can enjoy each moment of the day and can do whatever they want. Some travel, some join bridge clubs, others do charity work or visit the local library a lot. Many of them enjoy walking and cycling through the country or visiting children and grandchildren.

The elderly are a large section of our population today. They are an important income source for the economy, because they have worked all their lives and have saved money. They can spend a lot, or just live their lives.

I love or am fond of watching my parents live their good life as elderly people with their love for culture, art and nature. Their reading of great books, their painting and drawing, their travels, their efforts to keep fit, and their social contacts and enjoyment of music, good movies, playing chess and bridge (my mother). They have a good life as pensionados.

Cheers,
Pieter

[jeanne]

Thank you for your kind words, Pieter. I am enjoying my retirement! I don't consider myself elderly quite yet...I feel I'm more on the threshold of old age. I prefer to think that I am approaching it...but not there yet!

Yes, reading is one of the enjoyments that I now have time for. I had planned on reading Etty Hillesum, as I had told you, but shortly after you told me that Dostoyevsky's work had changed your life, a good friend of mine also told me the same thing, so with those two good recommendations I am now reading "The Brothers Karamazov." Previously, I had only read bits and pieces of works that did not appeal to me, but with "The BK," I am pleasantly surprised by the tone of his writing; I thought his style would be much "heavier" than it is, but I am seeing that it is his messages that are "heavy" (in the sense of "full of meaning") rather than his rather light and sometimes humorous style. I am not too far into the book yet, so I shall see what I think after I've read a bit more!

I just returned from visiting my daughter and family in Vermont. When I am there, we often visit the Shelburne Museum (http://shelburnemuseum.org/) which is an incredible place. I find it amazing that a museum in rural Vermont has several Monet paintings and also some Mary Cassatt works along with other impressionists. The woman who founded the museum was the daughter of friends of Mary Cassatt, so that is how the paintings ended up there. We went this time to view an exhibit, "Eyes on the Land," consisting of various forms of art focusing on the landscape of Vermont. My son-in-law's family farm was featured in some of the photos, so it was a must-see for us!

Jeanne