Almost across the board, US corporate profits are struggling–down almost 12% compared to a year ago. While financial and economic analysts can point to a number of things this could be the cause–or the result– of, Fortune Magazine, Deutsche Bank and KitCo, among others, fear a recession could be on the horizon for the United States.
An unfortunate and perhaps the most obvious result of recessions, as we’ve seen in the past, is job security plummeting. A primary concern of recessions is who will be able to retain their position and their steady income, and who will suffer? Those who are the primary providers for children are among the most at-risk–without a source of income children could undoubtedly suffer the consequences of an economy that is wholly out of their control.
Among those that lose their jobs are teachers, particularly those in public schools.
When state and local budgets are slashed, children receiving primary school educations across the country are hurt substantially, a fact that often falls out of consideration for many adults. When over 90% of your budget comes from state and local government, a recession can have an overwhelming impact on students.
Fortunately, there are things that you can do to properly prepare for a recession (whether it happens or not) and the potential impact on your children’s education.
Make an Effort to Learn With Your Children
One of the drawbacks of a recession on education is the elimination of teachers, leading to larger class sizes and less focus on your child in particular. This can be made up for by interacting with your kids after school and asking them to explain what they learned in school that afternoon.
By making an effort to learn with them, you’ll be able to answer any questions that they may have that went unanswered in the classroom. A task as simple as helping your child with his or her homework after school is an easy segue into giving them the educational attention they need in classes.
Volunteer When Possible
If you’re one of the millions who lost your job during a recession, your first priority should be reentering the workforce. However, you’re bound to have some downtime every now and again, which can be utilized by volunteering at schools. With a smaller staff, schools (especially elementary schools) can always use volunteers during a recession.
Help The School
If, on the other hand, you are in a place to lend financial aid to schools during a recession, doing so can make an enormous difference for the students involved. If you can afford to purchase cheap school supplies or books for a classroom, small gestures like that often go a long way during times of economic crisis.
Plan Your Own Extracurriculars
Extracurriculars can sometimes be some of the first things to go when budgets get tight in schools. To mitigate this, get your children enrolled in other, non-school related activities, whether it’s soccer, baseball, cheerleading or otherwise. These are absolutely pivotal to not only burning off extra energy, but to the development of your children during their formative years. Plus, your children will have an activity that they enjoy after a long school day, which could blossom into a lifelong hobby!