In this era when humans have already learned how to stand and walk straight, DCPS proposal of abolishing tenure-ship to get rid itself of non-performing “relics” —for lack of better terms is going backwards.
The argument that tenure-ship hinders the system in removing the non-performing ‘relic’ of the past is weak. My Granny calls this a Band Aid solution. Quick. Cheap.
I have a simple point here: tenure-ship is embedded in the system since the 19th century (Click here). It’s there because it has a reason. Primarily to protect workers from capricious and whimsical exercise of political power/authority. (*ahem)
I hear everybody when they say “Children first!” I’m with you. But please don’t forget that these ‘relics’ are children’s parents, grannies, guardians… Ever heard of the rippling effect?
I’m not saying to bear with these classroom dinosaurs. If must, I’ll be happy to rally with you (out on the streets and congress) to have these ancient nuisances out from our school system! However, not all relics are non-performing. Not everybody deserves to lose tenure-ship. Some of them earned it. With their hearts, sweat, and yes —blood too.
I agree that tenure-ship complicates the process of terminating a ‘dinosaur’ in the classroom but in no means can stop DCPS in eliminating itself from these bad, bad relics.
Why not solidify the 90-day process? The last time I check, most of these ‘relics’ got away from this process because the system ‘forgot’ to educate its army to judiciously and ACTUALLY implement this process.
Why not create an objective and measurable Professional Performance Evaluation Process? Because when we do this, we can pluck and get rid of obtuse people trying to penetrate the good cause of public education before they 'technically' earn tenure-ship. TIP: A thick booklet doesn’t equate to a sound PPEP implementation.
Why not mandate principals to observe—I MEAN, actually observe and evaluate teachers actually ‘teaching’ and OF COURSE, document it? So when year-end evaluation comes, stupid teachers will not have the reasons to stay or say, Mr. or Ms. Principal never been in him/her classroom.
Why not actually get a lawyer or someone with working knowledge with law in contract-negotiation? I’m not underscoring the intellect of the people on the negotiating team but c’mon… Even the best, smartest doctors hire lawyers. Puh-lease?
Why not spend a little more time researching on ways how to get rid of relics? You can start here: http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-925/tenure.htm.
The Chancellor can put a tag price on tenure-ship. For goodness-sake, I can price mine at $150K too!
But in the end, how about the other relics?
Like the pterodactyls, rhinoceros, brontosaurus, and the likes who came before us and fought (and maybe died) their legal rights for tenure-ship?
How about the relics among us who are doing fantastic teaching jobs?
How about the promising, upcoming generations who would want tenure-ship more than $120K?
So please tell me again why does NO tenure-ship equate to better teachers?
And why is it impossible for tenure-ship and high student achievement co-exist?
But hey, who can’t resist a Band-Aid that comes with $120K?
11 comments:
Funny (not really) but true.
B.C.
so Many vets say the same thing as you. Show me another urban school system where your idea has worked. Why not give this new plan a chance instead of trying to make an obviously broken system work? And again folks at the top of the pay grade telling those at the bottom to deal with the low pay. Easy to say in your position.
hey anon on 09/07 @3:07pm,
first, thanks for leaving a comment.
on your q reg. urban school system where "tenureship" idea is working-- as far as i know, all the first world nations (Europe, Australia, Japan) including ALL US public school systems have tenureship. I'm not saying that removing it is NOT the solution. MY POINTS ARE: (1) It is there for centuries for a reason and (2) there are still other options to explore before hastily abolishing tenureship just to get rid of non-performing teachers.
reading your comments give me the impression that the premise of your argument is that the system is broken because there is tenureship. partly yes, but please, look around you. the central office, 'allegedly' is supposed to be functional now after the termination of more than 150 employees. but hey-- a lot of schools are still understaff because central office does not have the capacity to fully staff the system.
let me reiterate another point here. this entry is not to encourage "the top of the pay grade telling those at the bottom to deal with the low pay". my point is about tenureship and how it should not be tagged, priced, and vended.
lastly, but most important to me, i'm not on the "top" of the pay scale. i'm on the younger bracket of generation x and also a career-shifter to teaching profession. considering these two facts-- i'm probably earning as much as you do (give or take 2k a year).
Gex X... Centuries change, and so does its people... please understand that its the same with this... the children are not the same THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA is not the same... and all of those factors effect this...education! So please... this "tenureship" all across the world... we are also different in morale than the Chinese, Japanese, etc... you canno compare anythign here...
mommilan,
thanks for your comment.
change is definite but change SHOULD BE forward or SHOULD BE for betterment; NOT backward and NOT for worse.
so centuries changed, people changed-- must we also change the fundamentals of life and work? like freedom of speech? right to protect what is closest to ours hearts? right to be tenured if I'm qualified and able to?
note too that i'm not comparing "Chinese, Japanese, etc." mores and morale to our beloved American mores and morale. Comparing them is a futile and stupid. Anonymous 3:07 asked me to show him/her urban school system where tenureship is working. I obliged and provided some. btw, i also included EUROPE, AUSTRALIA not just Japan. And, I did not mention China. just fyi...
Tenure exists at universities to protect academic freedom (and that's what your linked article is about.) But in K-12 education, teachers don't typically pursue original research, and have to follow a defined curriculum, and I've never been persuaded that tenure makes sense.
That's not to say I don't think teachers should get fair treatment in hiring or firing. That's also not to say I don't understand why K-12 teachers want it.
But isn't this all misdirection anyway, when anyone who has tenure can just stay in the red plan, and keep their tenure?
Gen X Parent
Gen X Parent,
You said: "Tenure exists at universities to protect academic freedom (and that's what your linked article is about.)"
I say: Continue reading at least until 3rd paragraph.
You said: "But isn't this all misdirection anyway, when anyone who has tenure can just stay in the red plan, and keep their tenure?"
I say: Read the entire contract.
GX Parent,
My understanding is that the new proposed contract removes tenure both on red and green plans.
"I say: Continue reading at least until 3rd paragraph."
I could be flippant too, and ask you to keep reading until the fourth paragraph. But my point is that K-12 is a different environment than a university.
"I say: Read the entire contract."
Do you want to give us a hint as to what you're talking about so we can look at it? Not saying you're wrong, but that's not how it is being reported by the WP, WTOP, etc. The DC Teacher Chic blog quotes Michelle Rhee saying "Tenure remains unchanged in the red plan" and "If you choose the red plan, your rights don’t change."
Gen X... did I need to type all the countries you typed? That's what "etc..." means, and China has a great school system and pleasant and well-behaved children... that is where I was going with that...
I think we were on the same path with changing moving forward... but still our communication remains misunderstood... my form of change means that we need to try working without tenure like majority of the workforce does...
I won't say too much because I am a great debater and I won't want to push your buttons when I mean nothing but peace and understanding when it comes to those who serve children as I do.
Many blessings...
Gen X Teacher,
Thanks for the great post.
Gen X Parent,
Please read.....the "Red" Tier plan eliminates tenure as well...eventuallly. If you are excessed, like the 533 people that were excessed this school year, the so-called safe "red" tier calls for you to have to search for your OWN job in the school system. If you locate a job and there is no mutual consent (for whatever the reason) you have three options---all which lead, ultimately, to your separation from the system.......this is the opposite of tenure.
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