| When I pulled my local newspaper from its snug plastic wrapper (yes, I still subscribe), my eyes latched onto the following headline: “Teacher Tenure Not as Simple as ABC.” In a nutshell, a North Carolina state senator has introduced for a second time a bill that would eliminate the tenure that North Carolina teachers receive after working four years in the same school system. Instead, teachers would be offered contracts lasting from one to four years.What’s your take on tenure?
Thoughtfully, |
I worked hard for my tenure and am happy I have it. The idea of a year to year contract is scary because I know that with my new principal, I would not have been asked back after his first year. Too arbitrary that way.
Tenure.
My state passed a similar law a couple of years ago. New teachers will only be offered a one year contract. Teachers who have already earned their tenure are given the choice to either keep their tenure or go to the one year contract and have a chance at the merit pay based on student scores on the state test. All of the tenured teachers that I know kept their tenure.
Tenure, otherwise it is too easy to get rid of teachers on the highest step. However I do believe that there should be a way to remove teachers that are no longer effective.
Teacher tenure gives teachers a sense of security in what can be a very unstable environment. Every school district has disciplinary measures they can utilize if a teacher is ineffective, but they have to follow through with the necessary steps to that conclusion. Basing teachers wages on test scores is a mistake that has already been proven in Georgia and other states to push teachers into cheating and manipulating test data.