The teaching field has changed a lot over the last several decades and continues to do so as we speak. The notion of tenure, so popular in the US and Canada, is slowly becoming a thing of the past, what with eighteen different states changing its meaning in the last year alone. When one thinks of a tenured educator, one often thinks of a Professor with lots of experience, who spend many hours a day researching and writing while coming up with new ideas and discoveries. Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly common for young people to have a much harder time reaching this coveted position, and sometimes they don’t ever make it. Instead of being given tenure after teaching at a certain place for a year or two, new educators must reach and maintain certain criteria over several years, some of which is decided on by student and teacher evaluations, as well as student test-scores. Unions such as The American Federation of Teachers (AFT.org), are fighting back, but they may not have enough political clout to win.
One of the great things about having tenure is that it gives job security and protects competent teachers from being fired for unfair reasons, such as nepotism or political ideologies. Academics given tenure are granted the freedom to explore and research topics that their institution might disagree with. without the fear of reprisal. If the school board feels a certain teacher needs to be let go, there are strict procedures that must take place, a hearing must occur in front of the board, and clearly established guidelines must be met. In other words, once you reach tenure you will be there until you retire, barring some sort of terrible indiscretion.
The issue now is that states want the flexibility to fire those who under-perform and for those stuck in their ways to leave and make way for the new generation of teachers who are more aware and knowledgeable about current events. They feel that is is unfair to taxpayers, who oftentimes foot the bill for under performing schools through their income tax payments. Those against this idea feel that abolishing tenure will lead to low teacher morale, an unfair lack of due process, and an unfair disadvantage towards older educators. Additional issues they are concerned about are decrease in job security and income, and a loss of ability to discuss controversial opinions in the classroom, without fear of reprisal.
In Colorado for example, Senate Bill 191 is making it’s way through the legislative chambers and is set to be voted upon early next week. This bill is looking to adopt a four-tier rating system to grade teachers on, and it subjects them to a rating system that is based fifty percent on test scores. They will need three years of high ratings before tenure can even become an option. Many hurdles will be removed for dismissing certain teachers, and they will constantly be measured on their ability to teach and motivate students. They could lose tenure status fairly easily, and it is not guaranteed that they will not be removed from the school entirely. In Idaho, continuing contracts (another way of saying tenure) for new teachers was done away with and performance, not seniority, was looked at for tenure placements and annual bonuses. Many citizens disagreed with this, so keep an eye on the November ballot for the outcome on this.
So what do you all think about tenure? Is it an outdated, subjective, and silly way of doing things? Or is it as essential part of our academic system? Those who are against it feel that something needs to be done to shake up our education system, and that by getting rid of ‘average’ teachers we will make room for those who really want to be there. They also feel that one does not to worry about losing tenure status if they truly are performing to the best of their abilities. If they are not, then the teacher is merely a burden to our schools and society as a whole and should be replaced as quickly as possible.
Today, some cities today see only about 1 out of 1000 teachers being fired for poor performance; can the rest of them really be doing an amazing job? It is only fair to our youngsters and upcoming generations to provide them with the best teachers we can find.
Sarah Parker is a part time teaching assistant from Greensboro, NC, who recognizes the need for change in America’s education system, but does not agree with taking away teacher’s well deserved tenure.
