Associated Press: 'In bold move, Colorado alters teacher tenure rules'

 

The Associated Press is breaking this news today in an article by Colleen Slevin and it will obviously be controversial.  I am commenting because this news exemplifies how simple solutions to complex circumstances may pose obvious dilemmas.  Although teachers serve a fundamental role in society, I've noticed in recent years that they and their unions sometimes become scapegoats for problems arising from a wide variety of challenging social conditions.

 
In some ways, the situation seems akin to a latter-day witch hunt.  The article appraised, "Many education reform advocates consider tenure to be one of the biggest obstacles to improving America's schools because it makes removing mediocre or even incompetent teachers difficult."
 
At the school where I work, unmotivated students are among those with low scores on standardized tests.  There are also many students from Spanish-speaking homes who participate in the English language standardized testing.  
 
If teachers are evaluated annually "with at least half of their rating based on whether their students progressed during the school year," teachers will be pressured to indicate advancement of students regardless of individual effort and ability. 
 
Each student has unique circumstances; however, chronic absences are a common factor among some students who fail classes and underperform on standardized tests.  Lack of parental involvement often seems an issue when considering the situation of students who work inadequately.  Sometimes it seems  easier for people to blame teachers rather than scrutinize the social conditions that affect student conduct.  I once met a single mother who was simultaneously holding down two eight-hour-a-day jobs at fast food restaurants to support her family.
 
"Beginning teachers will have to show progress for two consecutive years."  Which of these new teachers will be instructing the students who have a record of success?  Which teachers will find in their classrooms the students whose previous results show that they are struggling or failing?  Perhaps, the teachers with the highest ethics and standards will pose the biggest disadvantage from the perspective of school administrators as they attempt to fulfill bureaucratic agendas; thus, the problem students will be placed with these teachers.
 
Educators have a considerable influence on their students, as do the quality of their textbooks and other learning tools but it would be foolish to exonerate students of any responsibility for their success at school. 
 
During a financial crisis, changing tenure rules could result with a way of dismissing veteran teachers who generally are paid more than newcomers.  New teachers often start at the bottom of the pay scale and rates of remuneration are based in part on teacher qualifications. 
 
The Associated Press article quoted one Colorado teacher —
 

Margaret Bobb, an earth science teacher at Denver's East High School, said bad teachers are often quietly coached out of their jobs by administrators, avoiding the protracted tenure dismissal process.  She contends tenure is still needed to prevent good teachers from being dismissed for running afoul of administrators and to prevent experienced — and more expensive — teachers from being let go by cash-strapped districts.

"Education is not just you and your class.  It's not an individual activity.  If you're doing your best, it's a system you're a part of," Bobb said.  

 
The world financial crisis shows few signs of diminishing so it isn't surprising that education systems are impacted.  It is disturbing that, in comparison, one American career field where national expenditures have risen in recent years is the military.