It’s time to stop using seniority as the only criteria when considering teacher layoffs.
A bill removing the teacher tenure system is expected to arrive at the desk of Gov. Mark Dayton soon and we urge him to sign it. The longtime policy of “last hired, first fired” might make sense in some cases but might very well result in bad choices in others. The new legislation calls for a system based on seniority, licensure and performance.
This legislation doesn’t cure the state’s persistent problems in meeting up with its constitutional obligation to provide Minnesota’s young people with an education. In recent years lawmakers borrowed millions of dollars from school districts in order to balance its own budget. Finding an equitable and consistent funding source for schools is still a task the Legislature must address.
What the new legislation will do is take the handcuffs off school district administrators who are trying to put the best teachers into classrooms while weeding out those who are less competent.
Seniority doesn’t automatically translate into effectiveness. It doesn’t even automatically translate into experience, according to Senate sponsor Sen. Pam Wolf, Spring Lake Park. She said under the current system a teacher could have decades of experience but drop to the bottom of the seniority list by transferring to another school.
School districts, while still protecting the rights of teachers, need all the tools they can to ensure that the best qualified teachers retain their positions when cuts have to be made.
— Mike O’Rourke
Comments (6)
Add commentHow Many?
How many kids do we "Leave Behind", while we keep experimenting on them to find the right way to teach them? Or better yet a way that they learn.
What is the criteria that makes a good teacher? Thats what I would like to hear. How will it be measured? Percentage passing tests? Scores? Wait 20 years and do a survey to find out which kids turned out successful?
I saw these experiments firsthand with my kids, 14 years apart oldest to youngest.
What we really need is like any other problem solving discussion. First we need a clearly defined goal and then set up a program to achieve it. Until thats done we seem to be just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks, and in the meantime we have those that will be sent out in this world unprepared and complain later when there's problems.
Typical of "Experts"
It seems that all of the self appointed "experts", Mike O'Rourke, legislators(except John Ward), school board members, superintendents, a lot of principals, and the public think they all know what's best for education. Guess what? NONE OF YOU HAVE A CLUE, because you have never been in the classroom, and I mean long term, not just a fake pop in visit.
What other profession has all the decision makers so far removed from what actually matters and happens in the profession???
Do the kids a favor. Keep your uneducated opinions to yourself and BUTT OUT.
Teachers
are the most unappreciated and underpaid people in the job market. Those of you that want them to raise your kids for you, won't agree with this. If you don't believe me, spend time in classrooms, where most of the kids do just enough to get by, and know they can't be held accountable for their actions. By the way, I am not a teacher, just a concerned parent.
teachers
Are far from the most unappreciated and underpaid people in the job market, so lets get off that bandwagon and talk facts.
When you sit down and talk to your children and ask them about their school day you will learn much about what they are not learning. WHY!
When I ask teachers they say we teach to the tests and have no time to do otherwise. These are the same teachers that will not make time to assist a student after school or set time aside to work with a student having trouble with the subject. I have watched first hand teachers that beat students out the door at the end of the day.
How do i know this because many of these so called teachers colleagues are staying after school (off the clock) and work with the students. I have seen these same teachers come to school early (off the clock) to work with students on problems
Some of these teachers have nothing to worry about from layoffs because the are that senior.
All of them have one thing in common They cannot wait to get to the classroom each day. As a very close friend of mine told me that he could not wait to get to the classroom each and every day and he taught for 29 years. He passed away a year ago and I am sure between cribbage games with the Lord he is shaking his head at the people in his life's profession and wishing they would pull their heads out.
I'm one of those self
I'm one of those self appointed experts that knows what a trash heap public ed is and sent our children to private (non-union) schools. They are all gainfully employed and sending their kids to non-union schools.
"while weeding out those who are less competent" Ha ha, that's rich! do you know or know of a "less competent teacher who has been weeded out of public ed? I'll bet not.
we all have heard the retoric
what the teachers union does not want to admit along with some teachers is that tenure does not put the best teachers in the classroom in all cases, i have seen some of the best teachers lose their jobs because they were last hired i have also seen some teachers that should not be teaching anyone hold their position when they should be seeking employment elswhere because they are ineffetive, that being said, performance should definately be part of the equasion, so should time in service the fact of the matter is that there are some really great teachers that dont have a chance because of the current way of doing things, just as there are really bad teachers that are locked in because of the same thing schools need to be able to use the whole picture to decide what is best for the students which in the grand scheme of things is what really matters. performance reviews can help alleviate the teachers compensation also the ones that exell should be compensated at a higher rate.