IBM to help employees become teachers

Citing a U.S. shortage of math and science teachers, IBM has pledged financial support for employees who leave the company to pursue teaching careers.

The tech giant said on Friday that it would reimburse participants in its new Transition to Teaching program up to $15,000 for tuition and stipends. Participants will also be able to remain at IBM while they conduct course work and training, the company said.

"Many of our experienced employees have math and science backgrounds and have made it clear that when they are ready to leave IBM, they aren't ready to stop contributing," Stanley Litow, vice president of IBM Corporate Community Relations, said in a statement. "Transferring their skills from IBM to the classroom is a natural for many--especially in the areas of math and science."

IBM plans to initially open the program to as many as 100 employees in the United States. The program is set to begin in January in New York, North Carolina and several other locations where IBM has big staffs, the company said.

Employees who wish to participate must have management approval and must have worked for the company for at least 10 years. IBM noted that previously, many employees approaching the traditional retirement age have shown interest in making a contribution to their communities.

IBM's move comes as technology executives voice concern about the U.S. losing ground to China, India and other countries in math and science education.

[stopoffshoring]

What a creative way for IBM to get rid of it's American Engineers

This is nothing more than a cruel PR scam and another way for an American company to rid themselves of their American workforce.

So after an older employee completes their teaching degree they can start out again at the bottom of the wage scale as underpaid junior high school math teacher.

What fun! Of course if an older employee doesn't want to be a teacher then IBM will just outsource their job to India. That was fate of 14,000 IBM workers earlier this year.

What a choice for an older American worker to make. Get laid off or go get to ride herd on a horde of ill disciplined adolescents at a fraction of your old income and benefits.

Then again why would anyone want to waste their time teaching Math and Science to American youth?

By the time American industry gets done offshoring all the high-tech positions to India or replacing their American workers with H-1b workers, there won?t be jobs for the American students that you teach.

If IBM and other American companies want to increase the supply of American high tech workers all they need do is pay them more,stop offshoring their jobs, and stop bringing in H-1b workers.

Then students will be drawn back into the field. Given that in the last four years there has been a decline of 24% in the number of employed computer programmers, 23% in the number of employed EEs, and 18% in the number of employed computer scientist, (source IEEE, March 5th 2005) American students are rightly fleeing the IT and Engineering career fields.

While Math and Science Education are a problem the real issue is the destruction of the American Engineering workforce because of offshoring and the importation of H-1b workers. That?s why the enrollment in Computer Science programs is down by 50% this year. American students know because of offshoring and H-1bs there is no job security in Engineering or IT so they choose to study fields where they can get and keep a job.

[JulesLt]

When I Grow up I want to be on MTV Cribs - Science in Decline

I am not sure students are fleeing towards more secure subjects
(even law and medicine aren't secure these days). What has been
evident is a longer term trend in students going for 'soft'
subjects, even where there is no clear career option after.

There has been a shortage of maths graduates for years, and
that's a very employable degree. Physics has also been in
decline. So (in the UK) are modern foreign languages. In fact,
most of the traditional academic subjects - the ones that have
been on the school curriculum for the past 100 years - are in
decline. Surveys seem to show kids say they are 'boring' rather
than 'won't lead to a job'. Teachers are being pressured to make
their subjects more appealing and 'relevant'.

Personally - and it's only a hunch - I think the blame lies with
the wider 'culture'. Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' was a big series in it's
time, which probably filled many children with a sense of wonder
that made them interested in 'science'. I remember programs
about computing - I recall a documentary specifically about
Logo and vector vs raster graphics.

These days, when the mainstream media does cover science, it
is more interested in the human interest angle than the science
itself - especially 'lone scientist proved right against the
establishment'.

And I think that does all add up, along with the drip-feed of TV
showing you can become successful with no discernible talent -
that life is a popularity contest, not a talent show. I don't think
kids are naive enough to believe that they will be 'famous' when
they grow up, but they do seem to have lowered their academic
aspirations.

Another factor may be that the previous situation was an
aberration created by the home computing boom of the early
80s - almost all my friends at school have gone onto become
programmers, and we all initially learnt to program on 1k and
16k early home computers. These days programming is the last
thing you do with a home computer, not the first.

IBM disingenuous

I am sceptical of IBM's concern for the loss of math and science skills. Having been let go in their last purge with many skilled other highly skilled people and having trained many offshore to take over these jobs this smells like eye wash to me. What incentive do students have today to persue these fields when the jobs are not here?

Sounds like another way to get rid of another 100 employees.

IBM = Hypocrite

Offering education to 100 employees? What about the 10,000 whose jobs they move to China every year.

[rbannon]

I teach math . . .

I'm an assistant professor of mathematics at a two-year
community college and I've been teaching since 1988. At my
school --- which is very similar to most community colleges ---
more than half of courses are being taught by adjuncts (part
timers) and that number will only increase. Problem, these
adjuncts are treated very poorly and are being paid about $20
per contact hour. Keep in mind that each contact hour requires
many more hours in preparation and travel time. I estimate, if an
adjunct is doing a credible job, that they're making about $8 per
hour of work. Oh, adjuncts are required to have a masters.

Bottom line, there's no shortage of mathematics teachers, but
instead a colossal growth of massive schools that have an
insatiable appetite for students and low paid workers to keep
them in a constant loop. It's no wonder that, at our school, 95%
of our students are in remedial mathematics courses and remain
in the loop for many years.

[207796398873175208235380528963]

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[207796398873175208235380528963]

For those who care about American IT and our national security

This is a MUST reading for those who care about the future of American IT and our national security (see the link): http://www.alexanderbell.us/Initiative/IT.htm

[207796398873175208235380528963]

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[rdean]

Would you rather...

IBM just lay off these workers, or help them prepare for their post-IBM life?

On the base point, I do agree. Computer Science won't be an attractive major with the perceived job security (due to offshoring) being pretty freaking low.

[cjohn17]

Flame On, With All Due Respect

Perhaps the disgruntled IT pros whining here about outsourcing
and layoffs should have made themselves more productive thereby
more valuable to their company. My experience with IT is that they
rarely productive nor cost effective. In fact, often overpaid
Microsoft system babysitters.

Think about that when retool your skill-sets for your next gig, with
all due respect.

[cjohn17]

P.S. Kudos to the IBM Professionals

However, IBM should be applauded for their initiative. So what if
it benefits the company too.

With all that distracts kids these days, the garbage thrown at
them from MTV and a youth culture that mocks true
achievement, I appreciate the leadership these professionals
have shown. To teach a child work ethic values and spark their
interest in advanced science is a very good thing indeed.

That's how one makes themselves valuable to their company,
their community, and their country. Not whining about
outsourcing.

So What?

"So what"? It proves IBM is a hypocrite, and you are an IBM homer. Training for 100 people, when they lay off 10-15 thousand (10,000 - 15,000) every year while moving those jobs to Asio? While also handing their PC business over to the Chinese government, thereby transferring thousands of other workers here in the US to a foreign employer.

Wake up, there's a long history of "International" Business Machines putting overseas clients first. In fact, most of their employees are already overseas, and have been for many years. This is nothing more than a PR stunt to try to fool those here in America who don't know any better.

[cjohn17]

Pink Slips a Plenty for Lousy Attitudes

I have no affiliation with IBM and own no stock.

But with your defeatist attitude and cynical tone I would have laid
you off too. Wallow on your cross all you want. No one cares nor
will anyone rescue you. Stand up and be a man. IBM owes you
nothing. They are only beholden to the share holders. Who are
better off without the likes of you.

With all due respect.