I guess my teaching days are done

Gary Blanchard

Gary Blanchard

beloved, local musician
The college I teach at, Anna Maria College, just announced that they will close at the end of the semester. It is a small, private school; it seems that they lacked the endowments to stay viable. We heard last week that a story about the problem would hit the news but that they were exploring to be able to survive. Today they admitted defeat.

I enjoy teaching, but at this point I don't think I will pursue another teaching job. This will allow me to focus on the counseling and add some hours to that, resolving the lower income between semesters. It's been a good run, and I can say that I taught at the graduate level. Not bad for a guy from the projects who was told he would never make it in college.
 
It’s sad to lose a good college. But it seems like you always have plenty to keep you busy.
 
It does seem like I suck at retirement.

Actually, I am having a great retirement. I work ten hours a week doing work I enjoy and keep Thursday through Sunday open. I don't start my workday before 2 pm. The work keeps my mind engaged and allows me to use the skills I developed over the past twenty eight years. I do need the money; luckily my training allows me to make it without feeling like my retirement is crappy. The "work from home" aspect i helpful, and I have very few demands from the company.
 
Any time education is crushed by our capitalist society, it really makes me sad.

All these privatized corporations that stuff the pockets of their founders and shareholders while the majority of us get left with the scraps and the wastelands left behind when all the options are wiped out or suffocated. :sad:
 
Sorry to hear that. So many colleges closing down. I read a very sad story in the Wall Street Journal of all places about St. Michael's College in Vermont being in bad shape. That school is a wonderful place; our younger kid went there for a year and would probably still be there had other life issues not gotten in the way.
 
Sounds like you had a good run and made an impact on your students, and you can continue making an impact on your patients as well! Best of luck Gary...
 
Covid was the death knell for a fairly sizable percent of small, liberal arts colleges and universities. It's just that some took longer than others to succumb. This, along with the dearth of entry-level jobs for non-science/engineering majors along with the demographic reality of a shrinking college-age population are hastening the decline.
 
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