> Have you noticed any changing trends in education v. experience? For
> example, classroom teachers usually just needed a bachelor's in
> education to teach and now they are being pushed to get a master's or
> even a PhD if they are teaching HS.
>
I don't know about your area, but here in New Jersey, where most school 
funding comes from our ever-increasing property taxes, the best way to 
NOT get a teaching job, outside of urban districts, seems to be to have 
an advanced degree or experience. My cousin is a speech therapist in 
district in northeast New Jersey. She was DIScouraged from getting a PhD 
because it would do nothing for her on the pay scale. Instead, she got 
two Masters degrees. Both paid for by the district. In fact, prospective 
teachers are strongly encouraged not to go for an MAT or other graduate 
degree until after they're hired.
Those degrees and years of experience cost taxpayers money. We have 
districts in my county that start brand new teachers at $46,000 per 
year. Fresh off of student teaching. Salary caps near $100,000 are 
common. So are 6% annual salary increases.
Teachers with experience are encouraged to take early retirement 
packages after they hit the salary cap and only a few teachers with 
long-term experience are kept on staff in order to pump up the "average 
length of experience" statistics for the districts. The vast majority of 
new teachers are fresh out of college (literally.) Or the occasional 
"change of career" type who got tired of corporate America and want to 
do something "meaningful."

And to think I was ecstatic when I finally hit the $30K a year mark in 
the museum/public history field. After being a 
director/archivist/education director/living history programs 
developer/curator/marketing and PR specialist/grant writer/front line 
interpreter/cultivator of local business relationships and so much more.
6 months later came the cuts in state funding.

Sigh. Those were the good old days.

-- 
Scott D. Peters
Founding Trustee, 
The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County,
Historically Speaking -
Historical and Genealogical Research,
Living History, and Museum Program Development
17 Alexandria Dr.
Manalapan, NJ 07726
[log in to unmask]

"Will do history for food..."

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).