There was a time, not so long ago, when I asked my high school classes how many planned to go into teaching. One or two hands shot up in a class of 55. Most of my students snickered and mumbled something about wanting a real job that earned real money. A class humorist piped up, “It’s too hard to teach someone like me!”

But since that time, teaching has grown in appeal. Even in years when schools downsize, they try very hard to keep current employees and only retire positions that have become vacant because of a move or retirement. Additionally, Fairfax County and many other school districts have pension plans that are “defined” and not subject to the vagaries of the market.