No, I didn't get a March 15 pink slip, but some of my former colleagues did. Once again the political climate and finances of California rear their ugly head. How can we continue to say we value education and our children when we continue to treat educators as an expendable commodity. As politicians, district officials and reporters downplay the significance of the layoff notices--"we won't really have to lay off all these people, but we have to tell them we might because of the law" or some variation. As someone who has received such notices twice in the last 4 years, the jolt of a certified letter or a face-to-face presentation still effects the psyche. The stress of "maybe" is still a stress and a reality of what will I do if it comes true? How will the bills be paid? Do I look for a new job or do I hang tight? I feel for those who received these notices and cannot but wonder how many good people will exit education this year because of another round of uncertainty.
