Pa.tenth in teachers'wages

CARLI PIO STAFF WRITER CAP723@CABRl1'I.EDU

Are teachers underpaid? It is a statement that has left teachers standing outside of their schools, carrying large banners, expressing their personal opinions on the issue, for years.

The truth is, the position that people have of teachers being underpaid could very well be inaccurate.

With Cabrini's most populated major being education, there may be a question as to why a number of the people that enter the institution declaring education as their major choose to select a different career direction before the time of their graduation. Is it the Praxis tests, the lack of available teaching positions, or arguably, the salary?

The Praxis is a test that 80 percent of states require as part of their teacher licensure process.

As a result of how strongly the test is stressed, and the degree that it is examined by possible employers, it has driven some of the potential teachers to stray from their initial drive to obtain their teaching degrees.

"Scores on the Praxis make the difference if students are staying with their major," Cooperative Education and Career Services Director Nancy Hutchison said. "Competition is very difficult in Pennsylvania's teaching systems. Requirements for education majors have gone way up."

"I chose not to stick with ele-

Graduates' passion for education is what drives them to a career-path of teaching. mentary education like I had planned, mainly because of the Praxis," 2003 Cabrini graduate John Verdi said. "Instead I am pursuing my Master's at Salisbury University for postsecondary education. I am planning to stick with higher education, and hopefully pursue my career within Student Affairs, mainly with first year students. I would eventually like to obtain my PhD. Now I am pursuing a degree that will allow me to make about the same salary, if not more, as any high paying school district, and I don't have to take six certified tests to do so."

Verdi also said, "I did waste a lot of money on those tests that I was taking since my sophomore year, and it would have been nice if we were encouraged more as sophomores to understand the outcomes of the tests more."

For students that would hope to teach locally in the Philadelphia area, or even in the state of Pennsylvania, the task of finding an open position matching all of your teaching desires, is a difficult one, especially coming right out of college.

Most of the teaching positions that are open attract large numbers of applicants, and the more experienced applicants are selected, unless one might know someone in the system. "A lot of it is who you know and how you network yourself," said Hutchison. "Graduates need to be willing to re-locate to areas more north or south of our location."

"I think teachers are doing quite well. Years ago they were definitely underpaid. Within the last decade or so their wages have been drastically improved," Hutchison said.

Pennsylvania remains to receive one of the top pay scales for educators. In fact, the average salary that a teacher receives in the state was $50,600 dming the 2001-2002 school year. ranking Pennsylvania 10th in the country.

"In Philadelphia, the starting salary is $36,175. As a recent graduate without many bills to pay, I find this to be a great pay," Melissa Kelshaw, a 2003 Cabrini graduate, said.

Kelshaw graduated Cabrini with a major in special/elementary education. She is currently a seventh grade special education learning support teacher, part time, at Roberto Clemente Middle School, which is located in North Philadelphia, in the Philadelphia School District.

"In reality, teachers put in many hours of unpaid overtime -that goes unnoticed, but it is work that is necessary to better serve the students. Teachers do not have what we call, a "clock in-clock out" job. Teachers get paid from 8-3, regardless of how late they leave the classroom," Kelshaw said.

Students are always welcome to stop by Grace Hall to Nancy Hutchison's office. She is more than happy to suggest promising teaching positions and places that are well in need of young new faces for their classrooms.

"Teaching is a career that someone must choose because they are sincere about it. Choose to teach because you want to educate children, and make a difference," Kelshaw said.

MalaWi native speaks out against AIDS

NINA SCIMENES STAFF WRITER MS722@CABRINI.EDU

Did you know that nearly 800,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in just the United States? AIDS is an issue that affects humanity worldwide. AIDS is most severe in African countries where 28 million are suffering with HIV/AIDS.

Cabrini College will have a guest speaker share first-hand experiences dealing with HIV and AIDS in Malawi, a small country in Africa. Abbie Asha Marambika Shawa will be speaking on behalf of the Catholic Relief Services on Tuesday, Nov. 11 in the Grace Hall board room 1:50 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.

Shawa is the program manager who is primarily involved with his own community of Malawi. Having already spoken at nearby Villanova University, Shawa is a veteran to the area. Cabrini's Campus Ministry arranged for Shawa to be a guest speaker. He will be discussing the influence of HIV/AIDS in Malawi, and explaining the responsibilities of Catholic Relief Services, whose world headquarters are in Baltimore, Md. "He is unique because he has dealt with these issues first-hand," David Chiles, campus ministry coordinato, said Through Catholic Relief Services, Shawa brings his professional and personal knowledge to U.S Catholic cornmunitie~. Shawa's work reflects his life; he has 24 years of experience fighting for survival in Malawi. The country of Malawi is plagued with disaster. With an estimated population of 11 million people, one million of them are infected with HIV/AIDS. Recently the life expectancy of Malawi has been dropped to 41 years. which is caused by a combination of natural disasters, and HIV/AIDS. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to hear Shawa stories of struggle, and sacrifice.

Career Fairs offer job opportunities

TANYA K. TUMAIA1'" STAFF WRITER TKT722@CABRINI.EDU

Finding a job right after graduation can be a long process. However, there are many new opportunities to make that process run a little more smoothly. Students who attend career fairs tend to benefit from it, making the transition from college to the 'real world' an easier task.

Nancy Hutchison, the director of Cooperative Education and Career Services, reminds students who attend the fairs that they should "Always get business cards" and "always write thankyou notes to people who meet with you." By writing thank-you notes it will be a friendly reminder and it cannot hurt your chances of future involvement with the business. Also, when attending a career fair students should bring copies of their resumes and a portfolio of their work.

In the search for a professional job, Hutchison expresses that students should dress according to traditional business attire, women in dress suits, and men in a suit and tie. Try to eliminate heavy perfume and cologne and women should tone-down makeup. Flyers are hanging up all around campus for the upcoming 11th Annual Delaware Valley Regional Job Fair. It will be taking place at the Valley Forge Convention Center on Wed. Nov. 5, between IO a.m. and 4 p.m. There is no admission charge for students and over 60 organizations will be present. Job seekers from all over will be there.

Another career fair, the MidAtlantic Association for

Employment in Teacher Education Job Fair, will be held in Atlantic City, NJ on Nov. 11.

For more information on these career fairs go to Cabrini's website and go to Co-op and Career Services.

Cabrini students have already begun attending these events and according to a survey of graduates, about 15 percent have been offered employment as a result of job fairs.