Here's Your Pink Slip . . . Now, Go Become a Teacher

Can the worsening economy actually cause an increase in educators? Budget cuts are forcing major belt-tightening in most states, but in Kansas where there is a teacher shortage, the unemployed might be dusting off unused teaching licenses.

There are 25,000 people in Kansas who have teaching licenses but are not currently working in schools. Many have taken different career paths or are stay-at-home parents. But as jobs are eliminated at a rapid rate and home budgets become tighter, the seeming job security and benefits of being a teacher start looking quite attractive.

"When we have an economic downturn, that's when more people choose to go into education," said Kansas Education Commissioner Alexa Posny. "It's such a stable field."

 

In the long term, will the ripple effects of this recession mean more people, not just in Kansas but around the world, turning to teaching as their career choice?