Parents need to educate their children. The state needs to help educate parents so they are better equipped to educate their children. The most important job in our society is raising children, and, unfortunately, a parent needs no license or education, just hormones.
It does not help American society than 22,000 adjunc t (part-time) instructors have lost their teaching assignments due to lack of funds and classes in the California community college system while enrollment is closing in on 3 million students, the largest educational system in the world.
I have been teaching English in the community colleges since 2002. Last year, I lost my assignments at Cerritos College in Norwalk due to cutbacks. I am still teaching at Harbor College in Wilmington – with more cutbacks on the horizon. My survival does not depend on my small income from teaching. The main reason I teach is because I enjoy helping students learn a very useful tool – writing.
Unfortunately, many adjuncts’ survival does depend on their teaching. When Harbor College had to eliminate summer classes a couple of years ago, one teacher lost five classes. Summer school was his main source of income, so he did not know what he was going to do.
Another problem is the increasing enrollment. There are less classes and more students. I usually have about 34 students enrolled for my English classes at Harbor. I have another five to 10 on a standby list. The first day of class, another 30 students show up who want to add. I then have approximately 74 students in the classroom waiting to occupy about 39 seats. They are falling out of the windows. I, of course, being not too bright, try to accommodate as many students as I can but 39 is supposed to be my limit.
Additionally, these are basically grammar and essay classes. Traditionally, 25 students is a large class; 39 is a little overwhelming. That can require over a 1,000 essays to read in one semester, not to mention another 39 research papers. I figure I work six hours a week in the classroom and about 14 hours preparing and grading per week so I make about $23 an hour. To put that in perspective , some handymen I hire charge $50 an hour, and I have 22 years of education! Is there something wrong with this picture? Of course, it’s my own fault. If I want to make money , why don’t l do instead of teach? Teachers contribute nothing tangible to our economy, of course, only people.
Only people? Maybe it’s time to rethink priorities. Of course, we know that Kobe Bryant contributes a lot more to society than teachers do. That’s why he makes approximately $22,980,000 annually more than I do.
So what am I crying about? Lost wages? Hardly. I am really upset that it is so hard for the governor, mainly, to raise taxes and for the community college system to raise tuition. Sadly to say, raising taxes and increasing tuition are the two best ways to salvage our community college educational system. Would you rather print more money instead? More funds would mean more jobs and more happy students.
From what I hear, the de-emphasis of “junior” colleges is not a big loss to some people. They make snide comments about all the students who are not smart or committed enough to go to a real college.
Do you know how many students I have had since 2002 who said they blew off high school, realized the error of their ways and now “want to make something of themselves?” Probably 80 %. Do you know how many over 25 years old have returned to school to improve their chances for promotion or employment? Probably 15 per cent.
People who have been clueless most of their lives now have an opportunity to turn their lives around, and the government and the voters are not willing to do anything to support them. Support additional taxes for education and increased tuition (if necessary), and our children may help support us.
Don Lechman is a retired reporter, critic and editor for the Daily Breeze. He continues to teach - he hopes – writing at Harbor College in Wilmington.
It does not help American society than 22,000 adjunc t (part-time) instructors have lost their teaching assignments due to lack of funds and classes in the California community college system while enrollment is closing in on 3 million students, the largest educational system in the world.
I have been teaching English in the community colleges since 2002. Last year, I lost my assignments at Cerritos College in Norwalk due to cutbacks. I am still teaching at Harbor College in Wilmington – with more cutbacks on the horizon. My survival does not depend on my small income from teaching. The main reason I teach is because I enjoy helping students learn a very useful tool – writing.
Unfortunately, many adjuncts’ survival does depend on their teaching. When Harbor College had to eliminate summer classes a couple of years ago, one teacher lost five classes. Summer school was his main source of income, so he did not know what he was going to do.
Another problem is the increasing enrollment. There are less classes and more students. I usually have about 34 students enrolled for my English classes at Harbor. I have another five to 10 on a standby list. The first day of class, another 30 students show up who want to add. I then have approximately 74 students in the classroom waiting to occupy about 39 seats. They are falling out of the windows. I, of course, being not too bright, try to accommodate as many students as I can but 39 is supposed to be my limit.
Additionally, these are basically grammar and essay classes. Traditionally, 25 students is a large class; 39 is a little overwhelming. That can require over a 1,000 essays to read in one semester, not to mention another 39 research papers. I figure I work six hours a week in the classroom and about 14 hours preparing and grading per week so I make about $23 an hour. To put that in perspective , some handymen I hire charge $50 an hour, and I have 22 years of education! Is there something wrong with this picture? Of course, it’s my own fault. If I want to make money , why don’t l do instead of teach? Teachers contribute nothing tangible to our economy, of course, only people.
Only people? Maybe it’s time to rethink priorities. Of course, we know that Kobe Bryant contributes a lot more to society than teachers do. That’s why he makes approximately $22,980,000 annually more than I do.
So what am I crying about? Lost wages? Hardly. I am really upset that it is so hard for the governor, mainly, to raise taxes and for the community college system to raise tuition. Sadly to say, raising taxes and increasing tuition are the two best ways to salvage our community college educational system. Would you rather print more money instead? More funds would mean more jobs and more happy students.
From what I hear, the de-emphasis of “junior” colleges is not a big loss to some people. They make snide comments about all the students who are not smart or committed enough to go to a real college.
Do you know how many students I have had since 2002 who said they blew off high school, realized the error of their ways and now “want to make something of themselves?” Probably 80 %. Do you know how many over 25 years old have returned to school to improve their chances for promotion or employment? Probably 15 per cent.
People who have been clueless most of their lives now have an opportunity to turn their lives around, and the government and the voters are not willing to do anything to support them. Support additional taxes for education and increased tuition (if necessary), and our children may help support us.
Don Lechman is a retired reporter, critic and editor for the Daily Breeze. He continues to teach - he hopes – writing at Harbor College in Wilmington.
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