I am watching a very painful period for my parents...

My mother is a very young 60. Thin, dressed professionally, well-spoken and under employed. She has a BS in political science, an MS in PR from Boston U and an MBA from Sarasota University. She has been teaching as an adjunct for six years with Florida Metropolitan University. She has been trying to get a job ANYWHERE in the public school system in Florida for two years. She has been able to get hired as a sub and partial year contracts, but the principals won't hire age. PERIOD. The folks getting hired are in their 20's right out of school. And this goes for seven different school districts. All the while the media and the unions scream of teacher shortages. This is the best crop of subs ever. She has fellow subs who have masters in Physics, Math, one guy with a doctorate in english lit but all are over 50. None have been offered full-year contracts.

My Dad is in the same boat.

I am watching this as I pursue my degree in civil engineering at 39 and think that after I get this degree, I'm going to take a serious look at a trade for some alternative sources of income.

Leighsah