"the pits were full of miners wishing they were teachers."

Well there are very few pits and very few miners left. Or steel workers. Or even farm workers. Those that aren't unemployed have probably retrained and may now be teachers - or in IT.

Listen to Ray Hearne's new album 'The Wrong Sunshine'. Ray was a South Yorkshire steel worker but got a degree and now works for the WEA (actually he's mrsleveller's boss). Damn fine singer/sonwriter and a damn fine folk musician. If you're interested in 'music of the people', his songs are well worth a listen.