This week I got a call from a reporter inquiring about Philippine-trained teachers hired by LAUSD. I must admit, it has been a while since I heard anything, our contacts are fewer and opportunities for get togethers have become less frequent. The economy and state funding of public education remain to be in the headlines. Despite the bad news, I mentioned in the interview that those we happen to be in touch with are doing just fine. Despite the initial hardships and challenges, many seem to have adjusted quite well, some are thriving, some are very successful and there are those who are not.
Today's teaching job market is certainly very different to what it was in 2006. The downturn in the economy continues to create budget woes in school districts across the country and Los Angeles is not immune to this trend. There have been cuts to instructional programs, furloughs and outright reductions in force. Those who have been laid off in addition to newly graduated teachers have together created a surplus and apparently, there is no longer a shortage of teachers. Districts like Los Angeles are no longer in the practice of sponsoring "out of country" teacher applicants. Much have been written about the practice of hiring Filipino teachers to fill the shortages of highly qualified teachers in math, science and special education in American schools. Now that it is over, we can expect stories about the end as well.
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