COVER: Fraud Alert
Scammers are targeting retirees more than ever. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself from identity theft, Medicare cons, romance fraud, and more.
Return to the Classroom
A nationwide shortage of teachers is sending these “retired” educators back to school.
(Life) Lessons Learned in the Classroom
Retired educator Susie Garrison learned a few things in her 30 years as a teacher. Here she shares her words of wisdom for life inside and outside the classroom.
What’s the Secret to Successful Recruitment?
The leaders of four NEA-Retired chapters were honored for boosting their membership. Find out how they did it.
‘Are You Thinking About Suicide?’
As suicide among young people reaches epidemic proportions, educators on the front lines are learning how to answer the cry for help.
We Need a President Who’s With Us
NEA’s Strong Public Schools campaign aims to keep education front and center in Election 2020. Meet these educator-activists who are making their voices heard.
- Rudy Duenas
A tireless advocate for public education, Rudy Dueñas knows too well the climate of fear many of his students live in. - John Ross
John loves his job, but not the financial struggle that comes with it. He intends to support a presidential candidate who is serious about improving teacher pay nationwide and making college debt more manageable.
Privatizers Set Their Sights on School Staff
Education support professionals and substitute teachers are more vulnerable than ever to outsourcing. Find out how they’re fi ghting back—and winning!
When a Bake Sale Isn’t Enough
An industrious teacher in a crumbling classroom crowdfunds money for an extreme classroom makeover. Learn how you can raise funds for your school, too.
How Higher Salaries Could Save the Teaching Profession
Schools across the nation are experiencing a teacher shortage, but professional pay could open the pipeline.
Departments
First and Foremost
Nearly half of teachers hold second jobs
Second jobs during the summer account for up to 12% of an educator's annual income, but financial pressures don't go away after Labor Day.
The pros and cons of student mental health days
By making mental health an "excusable absence," schools can help bring conversations about student mental and behavioral health into the open.
Not All Screen Time is Created Equal
A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics compared the academic achievements of 106,000 children ages 4 to 18 with the amount of time spent
in front of a screen—television, smartphone, computer (Internet), and video games. What they found was that overall screen time had little correlation to school performance. However, when each type of screen time was analyzed separately, the researchers found only watching television and playing video games had a negative impact on academics.
Helping Students Cope with Active Shooter Drills
Students commonly practice active shooter drills, an unfortunate consequence of a new normal in America.
The 10 election issues that teens care about the most
In 2016, as the presidential campaign heated up, thousands of teenagers, who were too young to vote, wrote “letters” to the candidates and posted them to letters2president.org. In 2018, researchers at Stanford University decided to analyze the more than 11,000 letters to determine if certain issues emerged more than others.
The researchers also found they could make connections between expressed interest in a topic and the student’s likely socioeconomic status. Immigration, police, and race were among the issues more likely to be addressed in letters from schools serving predominantly lower-income students and students of color. Guns, school costs, and gender issues were more likely at schools serving more affluent and white students.
Issues and Impact
When will states step up on school funding?
Get the facts about how educator protests have won substantial increases in school funding
Melinda Padley-Jones: Wouldn’t It Be Better For Our Students
Iowa ESL teacher and grassroots activist Melinda Padley-Jones who through her union has gotten more involved in activism.
People and Places
‘There’s No Learning Without Safety’
As incidents of racism and LGBTQ discrimination persist, educator-trainer Toni Smith works to create safe schools for all students
Kentucky Educator Gives Student a Lift
Kentucky educator Jim Freeman helps a student who uses a wheelchair join a school hiking trip.
Lily's Blackboard
Educators play an essential role in tackling the nation’s suicide epidemic.
Talk Back
A Glaring Omission
I always enjoy reading through your articles as an NYC public school teacher. Although the October issue was well-written, I would like to give you feedback on the cover of your magazine. The title reads, “Let’s Talk About Race,” yet I do not see anyone representing the East Asian race. I was perplexed to see no one representing my race even though I had suff ered multiple years of racism growing up as an immigrant in the NYC public school system. I would like to challenge you to take a more inclusive stand next time you talk about a broad topic such as race.
- E. GLUS
Every Educator Deserves a Living Wage
I cannot add anything to this article (“Profile in Persistence”) that everybody doesn’t know already. I have been a teacher for 31 years, and I drive Lyft at night and on weekends to make ends meet for my family. My son is graduating high school this year, and we have no savings to pay for his college.
- M. MURRAY
Remember the Counselors
I appreciated the article, “The Growing Mental Health Treat-ment Gap.” There is a crisis in our schools. However, I would also suggest that school counselors (especially at the elementary schools) not be forgotten in the list of needs.
- K. MCMANU
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