Tenure Laws

Tenure laws, namely those involving public school teachers, have come under attack recently--for their costliness, prevention of "real reform," etc. Having been in the public schools for 33 years, while continuing on now in my 15 year of college teaching, I am of two minds about teacher tenure laws.

First, I realize they have been abused. There are some very good teachers out there, very good. I think, for instance, my grandson has had several. And, likely most teachers are adequate, if lacking in courage/integrity. (With proper leadership, they can be led in the right direction, but only with proper leadership that includes, of course, courage/integrity and knowledge of what is quality education.) Far too many (certainly not a majority, but far too many) teachers are incompetent, don't belong anywhere near a classroom. How many of them get tenure? Likely, almost all of them. They should and, once achieved, they cannot really be touched. It's a shame to have to have them teaching. It's a shame to have had to work with them.

Second, though, I think tenure laws are necessary. They are needed to protect good teachers, those who are outspoken and courageous enough, with integrity, to speak out against the deleterious programs and policies often found in our schools. Who are responsible for granting tenure? Often it's the administrators who don't have a clue as to what quality education is, have never experienced the rigor required for that quality, and cannot summon the courage or integrity to stand up to the "deleterious programs and policies." Now, isn't that comforting? The lousiest of the lousy are responsible for perpetuating the lousiness!

Without tenure, how long would I have lasted? I don't know. I do know, on more than one occasion, I called out administrators, even a couple of superintendents, on the stupidest of things they were doing or were requiring the schools/teachers to do. At least once, I publicly questioned the integrity/honesty of an assistant super who blatantly lied to a small group of us on an important curriculum matter. (Fortunately, I had another courageous teacher back me up when the administrator tried to deny the lie. Of course, it made no difference. The policy of the lie won out and teachers just merrily went on and implemented it--remember the above, courage and integrity?).

Instead of a forum for different ideas, education has become on of the least tolerant institutions. And, it's hidden, as "diversity," "acceptance and respect," etc. are fraudulently perpetrated on an unsuspecting (uncaring?) public.

So, tenure or no tenure????