Thinking of Colorado

[otterprods]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Colorado has very serious long-term festering fiscal issues that are very negatively affecting education--primary, secondary, and higher education. I would not raise kids in Colorado for that reason alone. Teachers will get slapped on the other end, eventually, too. Colorado already lags numerous other states in teacher pay--expect that to get worse.

You're not entirely incorrect, but you're sort of like a retired street cop who sees the whole world like the nasty innards of a toilet bowl because that's the world he lived in each day for 30+ years. It's important to see the big picture, as unpleasant as it may be, and for that your posts are often valuable. But in the end it's best to get to know your local schools and teachers and go by what you see rather than just being cynical.

[PA2UK]

Originally Posted by otterprods

You're not entirely incorrect, but you're sort of like a retired street cop who sees the whole world like the nasty innards of a toilet bowl because that's the world he lived in each day for 30+ years. It's important to see the big picture, as unpleasant as it may be, and for that your posts are often valuable. But in the end it's best to get to know your local schools and teachers and go by what you see rather than just being cynical.

Thanks, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that while there might have been some valid concerns in there for the future of Colorado, the doomsday, end-of-the-world approach to it was a little exaggerated.

And to dismiss everyone who thinks positively of Colorado as people with a large disposable income who are detached from the realities of "working" life with a family to support is very unfair and not necessarily true. I doubt any of this is that black and white.

[ohazco]

Originally Posted by jdblair5

Thanks for the heads up, I must admit, in my heart I do love the idea of little land and a small town, but I understand what you mean and with only 300 students in the district I don't see there being a high teacher turnover.

Actually, there are tons of teacher jobs out this way every year... social work/mental health jobs too. Both are very understaffed. There is high turnover as there are not enough "locals" to fill the positions, and the non-locals move in because its Colorado, then leave after a year because they aren't in a mountain valley or they got tired of driving to Denver every weekend because they don't know how to live in a small town.

[otterprods]

Originally Posted by PA2UK

And to dismiss everyone who thinks positively of Colorado as people with a large disposable income who are detached from the realities of "working" life with a family to support is very unfair and not necessarily true.

I'm in the middle of my working years and raising 2 kids who have just started school and there's no place I'd rather be. (except maybe on some days when the wind is blowing red dust at like 50+ mph !) It may be quite different out in the truly rural parts of CO though, especially if you're dependent on local economy for work. (neither one applies to me)

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by ohazco

Actually, there are tons of teacher jobs out this way every year... social work/mental health jobs too. Both are very understaffed. There is high turnover as there are not enough "locals" to fill the positions, and the non-locals move in because its Colorado, then leave after a year because they aren't in a mountain valley or they got tired of driving to Denver every weekend because they don't know how to live in a small town.

Unfortunately, a lot of Colorado school districts have resorted to saving money by replacing retiring teachers with new, untenured teachers (many of whom from outside of Colorado who don't know they're being "gamed") who are then laid off before they can become tenured. Then another new teacher is hired and the process starts again. I'm not in favor of tenure being utilized to protect incompetent teachers, but school districts using the lack of tenure to get rid of young teachers before they can get tenured isn't right either. Of course, a lot of those younger teachers also figure out that Colorado's often substandard pay doesn't square with the often high living costs (especially in the resort areas) and leave on their own accord to work in states where living costs are lower and teacher pay is higher.

As to the comment about "doom and gloom," all I can say is that Colorado's festering fiscal mess looks far more serious when you are knowledgeable about the fiscal process from the inside (as I am) and, thus, can more readily see just how bad it is. And, the last thing that the politicians and the Chamber of Commerce folks want to do is to acknowledge to anyone just how screwed up it is, so they are willing to do most anything to try to cover up the mess--and the public, continually in denial about the long-term economic mess the entire country is mired in, is more than willing to buy into the deceit.