Very well said, "My Opinion". It sounds like you and I are about the
same age and I know that getting a teaching job has probably never
been "easy" in MI (except for a brief period in 2000-01, until 9/11 and
the first economy downfall).

IMO, the only thing worse than blaming a "victim" is refusing to take
personal responsibility. I knew a lot of women (I am a woman also) in
college who were becoming teachers because they "love children" or, and
this was only revealed on the sly, as a way station until they had that
first baby. NO ONE could talk them out of it. They were hell bent on
being elementary ed (preferably Kindergarten) teachers. I don't keep in
touch with them, so I have no idea if their plans worked out or not. (I
went special ed and in an urban district, so I should hopefully keep my
job!)

My point is--these young folks were going to get certified in elementary
ed come hell or high water. When I went back for my Masters degree, I
heard so many younger students (at EMU) talking about being teachers. I
don't know if it's a generational thing, but they just had this
entitlement minded attitude where they seemed to believe that you could do
or be anything if you were just determined enough. That's partly true--
you can become certified if you try hard enough--but getting a job depends
on many other forces outside of you. (In fact, in one class we had to take
a quiz to see if we had an external or internal locus of control...I was
one of 3 people who had external...every other student in the class had
the attitude that they could find a job if they just "tried hard".) I know
that teaching and parenting and life has shifted since I was in high
school and we tell kids that they can be or do anything. Again, that's
partly true. My LD kids certainly can get law or medical degrees. Will
anyone hire them with all of the accommodations that they will need? That
I don't know and I try to be honest about this with them.

Sorry OP--we have gone far afield from your original question!

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