I sit and wonder what our future as teachers will be like.  I was reading articles today from several different states that are faced with budget cuts to education.  In particular, I was glued to the ones from Alabama.  I have a strong desire to return home to teach, but I am overcome with the fear that, because of the budget cuts to education, that desire won’t become a reality.  Now, I wonder how our nation got to this point where education is not as valued as it should be.  Whenever there are financial troubles, it seems that education always takes the biggest hit.  Why is that?  Somehow, the government can find $700 billion for a financial bailout, but no one is sending money to schools for an education bailout.  What happens to our children who are stuck sitting in overcrowded classrooms with unhappy teachers who are burned out and stressed out?  When will we get our priorities straight and turn our focus to providing the necessary funds to provide our children with a quality education?  As the November 4th presidential election draws near, I wonder how many teachers are asking themselves the question: “At the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, which of these candidates has my best interest at heart, as a teacher, and the interest of our children?  Which of these candidates has an education plan that benefits me as a teacher and the well-being of my students?  Which of these candidates will fight to avoid teachers having to worry about pink-slips because the school system does not have the necessary funds to pay them their salary?”

It frustrates me to no end that teachers across the nation have to live in fear of a pink-slip because of budget cuts to education.  Where do our priorities as a nation lie?