Teacher shortage..Just a silly rant..could use advice though

[jenny_ravenclaw]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, Melanie Black wrote:  
>  
> What states have major shortages?  Are there any states with 
shortages in the elementary school years?  I'm finding more and more 
that I should have just gone into social work to begin with, but 
hindsight is always 20/20.>

Hindsight sure is.  I am still kicking myself for not going into 
social work as well.  I would love to do counseling instead of 
teaching for the same kids I work with now.

All I can say about teacher shortages is that teachers are needed 
nearly everywhere.  Here in NYC they are desperate but many teachers 
don't stick around after being placed in the schools that need them 
the most.  I love teaching high school and I love my students and I 
don't mind working in the South Bronx, but that's me.  The conditions 
suck and the state and city are always breathing down our necks and 
making sudden changes that have no rhyme or reason to them.  Of 
course, even with all of our problems, I think everyone should come 
and teach here in the city, but unlike where Richelle lives, NYC is no 
place to save money when you are a teacher and the stress level can be 
truly overwhelming at times.

Are you really willing to move away from Ohio to pursue teaching?  If 
you are, I think you won't have any trouble finding a position.  I'd 
also be really impressed because I hate leaving the city.  I'm a New 
Yorker through and through.

--jenny from ravenclaw, who still hates when summer ends, no matter 
how much she loves her students 
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