American Public School Teacher Tenure Rights Weakening As States Seek To Fire Underperforming Educators KIMBERLY HEFLING 01/25/12 04:56 AM ET
WASHINGTON — America's public school teachers are seeing their generations-old tenure protections weakened as states seek flexibility to fire teachers who aren't performing. A few states have essentially nullified tenure protections altogether, according to an analysis being released Wednesday by the National Council on Teacher Quality.
The changes are occurring as states replace virtually automatic "satisfactory" teacher evaluations with those linked to teacher performance and base teacher layoffs on performance instead of seniority. Politically powerful teachers' unions are fighting back, arguing the changes lower morale, deny teachers due process, and unfairly target older teachers.
The debate is so intense that in Idaho, for example, state superintendent Tom Luna's truck was spray painted and its tires slashed. An opponent appeared at his mother's house and he was interrupted during a live TV interview by an agitated man. Why? The Idaho legislature last year ended "continuing contracts" – essentially equivalent to tenure – for new teachers and said performance, not seniority, would determine layoffs. Other changes include up to $8,000 in annual bonuses given to teachers for good performance, and parent input on evaluations. Opponents gathered enough signatures to put a referendum that would overturn the changes on the November ballot...............................>>>>............................>>>>....................http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25/american-public-school-te_n_1230026.html
Teach tenure should go away along with the long-outdated 10 week summer recess. Countries that have the highest test scores don't do it this way, so neither should we. Watch the teachers unions battle this to the death. Their battle should give you an idea of why our kids are failing in school.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
Teach tenure should go away along with the long-outdated 10 week summer recess. Countries that have the highest test scores don't do it this way, so neither should we. Watch the teachers unions battle this to the death. Their battle should give you an idea of why our kids are failing in school.
U R correct. But if the dems want to stay in power, tenures will always be around. They already know that who ever supports doing away with the teacher's tenure or extending the school year....will NOT be elected.
This is a case where both parties have to agree and come together......for the benefit of the kids and the taxpayers.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
THE DEMOCRAPS SOLD OUT THE STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATION IN EXCHANGE FOR TEACHER UNION SUPPORT AGES AGO!
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
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