Teacher Tenure

The issue of teacher tenure elicits strong feelings both pro and con.  Some feel that tenure allows ineffective teachers to remain in their classrooms even though there are better teachers available.  Others feel that without tenure schools will continuously turn over their staff so they can keep costs down.  Personally, I feel strongly both ways.

Over the years I have known teachers who consistently arrive at school late and who feel that they can take vacations during the school year.  I've also known teachers who have used inappropriate substances while in their classrooms and those who have been ineffective teachers.  I've received notes from teachers filled with spelling and grammar errors and even bulletin boards and lessons with incorrect information.  Tenure was often the reason these teachers remained in the classroom and I feel that kids would have been better off if they could have had better teachers.

On the other hand, I feel that teachers have a right to a career.  If they have good behavior, can set a good example for students, have the knowledge base, and are effective teachers they should have some assurance of continuing in their career.  Without tenure any security is gone.  I know some teachers fear that in Michigan where seniority is no longer in play that a teacher's salary is now considered when renewing teacher positions.  After all, if a beginning teacher makes several thousand dollars less than an established teacher, you can hire more teachers for less money.  To me this is unfair to the teacher. 

My solution involves keeping seniority and tenure being more careful to hire the best teachers available (and right now there are a lot of available teachers in Michigan).  Schools should be able to have a longer time to supervise beginning teachers before granting tenure and should be available with guidance and evaluations more frequently.  Once tenure has been granted, schools need to keep up the evaluations and when they see problems develop offer a plan for improvement with definite steps of acceptance.  If the teacher can not meet these steps over a year-long period and with the help of mentor teachers, they should lose their tenure.  There are, of course, also some legal points where tenure should be stripped immediately.  In the event the staff must be downsized, you should have all effective teachers and  lay offs should be based on seniority within qualified areas.

Tomorrow:  Is Pre-K Education Necessary?