The economy has been said to be at its lowest since the Great Depression. One of the greatest hits has been to job security. Jobs are lost daily and finding a new one doesn't seem to be around the corner. I have friends who have had to move across town, across the state and even across the nation. One has taken a job in the Grand Cayman Islands. Not too shabby, I know, but it is all the way by Cuba (nowhere near Disneyland), and it was the only job offering a certain level of stability to support a family of four.

But how has the economy affected children? That's a loaded question. Shall we start with the loss of teachers, loss of art and music, or perhaps additional students packed into small classrooms?

Children attach themselves to teachers more than you might imagine. Sure, they may come home and complain about homework or the fun things that other classrooms may be doing, but, deep down, those kiddos cherish every second in that room. For some, they spend more waking time with teachers at school than with their own parents at home. In my own classroom, we called it our "family." From the moment they stepped indoors, we were all a unit - together as one.

Teacher lay-offs rose to an all-time high in the last year. When a teacher is laid off, the child cannot completely comprehend it. You'll hear things like, "But, why?" or "But, why?" and yes, even, "But, why?" It's a loss of a family member; a loss of a parental figure; a loss of a piece of the puzzle.

So now that we've stripped the children of some level of stability, let's take away some of the fun: music and art. Arts departments are taking a hit statewide. Even counties with the strength to hold onto such valued programs have had to rearrange monetary priorities. Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) are forced to switch from supporting to funding. And that's of course only if your school is blessed enough to have a PTA. 

Music and art are an incredible part of the school culture. For most children, it's an escape of academic routine and a place to relax with their friends. For others, it is their way of learning. They're artistic souls and visual/musical learners. And for a few with disabilities, it's a need.

Let's see... so far we're at a loss of security and a loss of fun. What could be missing? Oh. That's right. The loss of teachers means more children without classrooms to call home. Though the number of educators may decrease, the number of students do not. Genius. Schools are then left with the question of what to do. Unfortunately, they decide to take those extra bodies and pack them into the remaining classrooms. Problem solved! Or is it?

One-on-one attention in the classroom is dying. How are children expected to learn in tight environments where the teacher can get around to even less students now? Should we even discuss all the new distractions?

Sadly, these are not the only three things children have to deal with because of the nation's economy. Next time you're drinking over the state of our nation's money and the lack of your own, take a second to consider the children who live down your street or even next door. They, too, need a way to deal with the changes. Perhaps you could bring a little art back into their lives and paint with them for a while?