Educators voice concern over rising debt and teaching profession
By Lauren Searson, staff writer
Posted on April 13, 2006

A new report released by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group says that 30 percent of public and 50 percent of private college graduates with student loans will face unmanageable debt starting off as teachers or social workers in Virginia.

According to a press release, the U.S. PIRG compared student debt of recent graduates with the starting salaries of teachers and social workers in the state. With this information, they determined the percentages of people in these careers that would not be able to pay back student loans.

Rose Garr, of the U.S. PIRG’s mid-Atlantic field office, said in the press release, “Public servants like teachers and social workers are vital to the success of our communities. Unfortunately, high student loan debt can prevent many students from embarking on these critical yet low-paying careers.”

JMU College of Education Dean Phillip Wishon said these statistics show the extent to which society seems to value particular lines of work more so than others.

“We should all feel grateful that most individuals who heed the call of such professions as teaching, social work and nursing, do so for much more substantially important and rewarding reasons than salary.”

As an IDLS and early childhood education major from Woodbridge, junior Samantha Albright said teaching in Virginia is a major concern because she will most likely have to take on a second job in order to pay off her loans.

“I really do think it will sway people away [from the major] because the stress of trying to get financially stable after college is too much for some people to handle,” she said.

The U.S. PIRG issued the report to draw attention to the problem of undergraduate student loan debt. The release of this information follows the $12 billion cut to the student loan programs Congress passed in February. According to the press release, this cut came mostly at the expense of students and parents. 

Garr said, “Making students increasingly reliant on larger and larger student loans to pay for college stops some students from pursuing their dreams.” With a strengthened investment from states and the federal government through increases in grant aid and more affordable loans, she said, college costs will be less of an issue for students and parents.

Wishon agreed and said the state of Virginia should do more to help local school divisions forgive up to 100 percent of a student’s college loan in exchange for agreeing to teach for a specified period of time, a program that is already in effect in some parts of the state.

“The least local communities and the state can do is help ensure that these professionals are able to earn a livable wage, repay college loans and invest a bit in their own families’ futures.”

According to Associate Dean of Education Steven Fairchild, many students expressed concern about earning potential as a teacher, especially after hearing difficulties their friends have faced.

“To make ends meet, some students continue to live at home and teach while others choose to share living arrangements and expenses with other new teachers,” he said.

Albright is one such student who, despite her concern, still wants to become a teacher and work with children. She said, “I know that a lot of us are fortunate that we can move back in with our families and save up to become financially stable.”