"Oh--" Cole laughed, albeit a bit awkwardly. "I'm not married, actually. The only one affected by my occasionally erratic hours is, well, me."
He had to take a few moments to think about that. "I think after-school programs have taken the worst of it. A lot of students are dealing with one or both parents being out of work, which means they can't afford to be involved like they used to - not to mention the added stress at home takes a toll on their schoolwork. Concerning my classes, there are a few textbooks that I've decided to either downplay in my lessons or cut out entirely - the added cost just isn't what the students need right now. I think every teacher has to cope with the changes, while trying to keep perspective on the importance of education. It's hard when you have students whose grades are suffering because of the economy, but all we can do is provide a less stressful environment here without letting them give up completely."