Teaching in Oregon...good idea or bad? (Portland, Medford: equity, relocating)

[kukla1]

My husband I are both English teachers in CA. We came sooooooo close to relocating to Medford about 5 years ago; something told us this ws a bad move, and sure enough, we found out that the schools in Oregon are in pretty bad shape. They were even asking teachers in some larger city to work for 2 weeks for free, I heard. Also, a school in Ashland was having bake sales just to stay open.

But that was 5 years ago. How is the education field now? I am interested in hearing from teachers who have had good luck and bad luck with teaching positions. Can anyone enlighten me?

[WantAnAdventure]

Hello. A good friend of mine is a teacher in Portland. She graduated two years ago and spent those first two years subbing because there were no jobs. She finally got her first real teaching job this school year and isn't very happy. The schools are still in pretty bad shape, from my viewpoint. I hear a lot of negatives from her and my son is in school here in Portland and, well..lets just say it hasn't been the best experience. He is in the 3rd grade in a class of 35..with no teaching assistant. Any music or art classes are 100 percent operated by parents. I feel like my son goes to school to get guidelines for what he needs to learn and then I teach him at home. This is simply because the teacher doesn't have time to get around to helping him when he needs it.

The teachers I have met these last few years are wonderful. But there simply isn't enough money. Oregon has the right idea about many things...but they seem to place education on the back-burner year after year.

It is one of the reasons I'm leaving Oregon this year.

Sorry to be negative, but that is my view!

I do know many parents who have moved up to Washington because the schools up there are much stronger.

Good luck with whatever direction you go!

[nocoldiron]

I know 3 teachers here-one just put her house up for sale and is returning to CA-says prices are a little higher in CA but salaries are 3x better in CA.The other two have gotten jobs in other fields,one is a minimum wage librarian,the other a rural postman with a handyman business on the side.I'd have to say you were smart not to plan a teaching career in OR at this time.I wince everytime I read that a teacher or librarian is moving here,the prospects are bleak in those fields.A good carpenter could do very well here right now.

[bustedbus]

My wife is an early education teacher here, and according to her Oregon has higher education requirements, and at the same time lower pay than many other states. I only have a GED and I make just under a dollar an hour less than her 3 years out of school. The cost of housing is also on the rise and teachers wages are not keeping up. If you have a masters and plenty of equity where you are, and just love the area, it could be done with ease, but if you aren't drawn here for other reasons I'd keep looking, because the pot of gold is bigger some place else if you're a teacher.

Allergies is another consideration if either of you have them. I love Western Oregon, and thought I would live here from now on, but due to my allergies, which have gotten much worse since moving here, we will be forced to relocate.

[kukla1]

You all are great! Thanks for the info. I think maybe we'll stay away from Oregon until education gets a fair share of state $$$.