WHAT?!?!

I was in Wal-Mart today with my husband looking at external hard-drives in the electronics department. For some reason, I can spot a teacher a mile away (my mom was a real estate agent and we could do the same with them). I look over my shoulder and I see an older lady with a younger one looking at some computer accessories. I thought, "Hey, there's a teacher," and sure enough, one of them was wearing a school district nametag. As I'm passing by, the older lady with the nametag introduces the younger asian woman to the Wal-Mart employee - "Hi, this is (so-and-so) from our teacher exchange program." Instantly, I look at my husband and say, "WHAT!?!?" plus some other expletives.

Everyone in school systems across the entire country is suffering one way or another from the economy and BUDGET CUTS. How in the hell can our school district afford a teacher exchange program?!?! Not only that! WHY are we hiring teachers from outside of our country but cutting teachers in our own schools! I AM LIVID!

Two years ago when all you-know-what was about to hit the fan with these massive budget cuts, salary freezes, and teacher cuts, one of the first teachers in our school let go was from Jamaica. She was teaching in our school under a similar (if not the same) teacher exchange program. We were told that the program was terminated because of budget cuts and she would have to move back home as soon as the school year was over.

I just don't get it. PLEASE someone help me understand!