When you’ve reached past 65 and you have most of your marbles and physical health left, life can often be a terrible drag. Case in point: I’ve always lived a very active life – in the rôles of teacher, professional musician, writer, and thinker – but on reaching 65, the popular concept of retirement age vs my not having been prepared or willing to retire started a serious conflict which has since been astir in my humble coexistence. The question is, while currently being age 67½ with a loving and supportive wife, but no money or steady job, what the hell am I supposed to do? I’m certain that in the past this exact question has arisen for many others in the same boat, while the accepted answer has ever remained a matter of individual adjustment to ‘normal’ circumstances. In my case, however, I flatly refuse to quit being active in either the employment or social areas of the spectrum. I realize the standard procedure is, upon reaching 65, to surrender one's proven value to the marketplace and find refuge in relative obscurity, emerging only when it’s time to vote or have Sunday dinner with one's daughter and son-in-law! I have never deemed any such prospect of self-abandonment as an acceptable pattern of life, nor can I accept 65 as the “official” point of cessation for most everything in this world that has truly mattered to me. My God! We are all inevitably destined to reach that stage in our lives, while to regard it as more than just a mere “step” in our evolution is not only unfair, but also inhumane.

Over the past several years, I’ve been an ESL instructor, while, until last year, I held a regular part-time position that, when coupled with a small Social Security stipend and a few private lessons, got us through the month fairly well. Suddenly, without warning, I became ill and was forced to take time off from my job. Upon returning a few weeks later, I was handed my final check … and that was that! Unfair? Yes, I would say, but that’s the way that particular mob (school) operates. Since that time, it's been hell locating any semblance of steady employment, while my wife and I have been forced to economize in practically all aspects of our life. Such an unenviable predicament has been quite a new experience for me, yet I must continue my search for steady employment in order that we see ourselves through this most unfortunate period.

Now, lately there has been much talk on the Board about the unionization of foreign ESL teachers in China to challenge the many unfair practices generated by both agencies and schools there. A worthy idea, indeed. Likewise, it may also be high time for those of us still-active older ESL teachers to form our own international union in defense of our right to continue teaching past the age of 65! I realize there are already many instructors over 65 employed in places such as the PRC, but my plea is for a UNIVERSAL system of fair evaluation and job placement for such individuals. I think there are, by and large, far too many of us who desire to continue but are still unemployed, being passed over largely due to age bias. Employers should keep in mind the indisputable fact that despite gray hair and notions that might, in some cases, be considered as somewhat passé, the technical rules of English are still basically the same, as is the method of delivery and the personality of the instructor who has had many years to perfect his/her professional academic presentation and attitudinal disposition. I realize I may be suggesting something more than slightly off the wall, but I’ve seen far too much valuable experience and dedication - the very essence of our realm of learning - ironically being ignored by a marketplace which is crying for results.

Please tell me what YOU think. Am I off base … or what?

The Arrogant One