This was brought to my attention today from friend "Armadillo" in Dallas. Our phone conversation was centering on the fact that we both have noticed that so many people our age (50's) are working at service jobs at convenience stores and retail stores and that this was quite a distinct change from the past. These are folks that have taken a job, any job, to get by. Remember when you used to see teens employed, at least for the summer? Then, as years went by, we saw more "grayhairs" working these part-time and entry-level jobs selling soft-serve ice cream cones. And now, it's formerly middleclass baby boomers.And they are happy to get these $7 an hour jobs with no benefits!!!

And what is the story on Page 1? That more Americans are working and the employment figures are rising. I asked my friend what his teenage son was doing for a job this summer. He answered that on Page 16 of the paper, you will see an article that notes teens are at the highest rate of unemployment, ever. Armadillo says: put both these stories together now. His son cannot get a summer job. Because parents our age need those jobs as one of the 2 or 3 jobs they need to support a family. So, is the employment situation in the US something that George Bush and Company can brag about? Think again.

I live in Arizona, a state with a crisis in public education that is presently documented as having the sixth straight year with the highest high school dropout rate in the US. There are many many teaching positions going unfilled. Why? Poor pay combined with a shortage of affordable housing for teachers, who are very low-pay workers in the area. Good people simply can't afford to be teachers. Solution for Arizona? By recommendation of the State Superintendent of Arizona, an "Instant Teacher" plan is in the works to certify ANY college graduate as a teacher. In one easy month-long course, the prospective teachers who never had an educational instruction course get a salaried job teaching. Then they have 6 months of "mentoring" while on the job. Then, voila, instant teacher! They will hold the same value credential as I, an experienced teacher from another state.

I am a teacher that cannot be certified in Arizona, although certified in another state, until I pay out at least $500 in fees and Arizona teacher tests per subject, and then possibly $1,000 or more if requested to take a few classes to meet Arizona "standards". All this before I can even look for a teaching job in this state. No "instant teacher" plans are available or even thought of to help experienced teachers moving to Arizona get a job! So I have found a "teaching-related" job, and this area has lost another potential quality teacher. Oh yes, employment figures seem to abound here in jobs available. Except. Well, at least I didn't take a job away from a teen, a senior citizen, or another baby boomer. Gosh, I didn't jump at the chance to start teaching at $27k. I had enough education, you see, to add it up that my investment of $1,500 just to transfer certification and then start at such low pay - well that doesn't make economic sense, now does it? I suggest to the State of Arizona that someone should have thought about paying teachers a decent wage. Then they would not have such a shortage. But no, it is a penny-wise and pound foolish orientation here: teachers are not valued in Arizona, so they are not paid even remotely adequately, or given incentives to stay in the field as teachers. Ergo, teacher shortage crisis.

Yeah, the employment situation in the US is

r e a l l y

improving here in my neck of the woods. er - just don't look too close at what is here, and by all means do not look past the stories on page 1, and don't even THINK about connecting the dots in stories related, whether on page 1 or page 16. It's all in how you look at it right?