Report: Tenured Teachers Rarely Let Go
The governor wants to make tenure harder to receive and maintain.
As Gov. Dannel P. Malloy works to restructure the tenure system in public schools, the Connecticut Post found in an investigation that hardly any tenured teachers are fired.
Out of 53,000 tenured teachers in public schools, only 40 were fired in the past two years. That's a dismissal rate of less than one tenth a percent, according to the Post.
“Today tenure is too easy to get and too hard to take away,” Malloy said earlier this month at his “State of the State” address. “I propose we do it a different way. I propose we hold every teacher to a standard of excellence.”
Under his proposed $128 million education agenda, 80 percent would go to the worst districts. In order for the schools to get the money, districts would have to “embrace key reforms,” with tenure changes being one of them.
“We cannot and will not fix what’s broken in our schools by scapegoating teachers. But nor can we fix it if we do not have the ability to remove teachers who don’t perform well in the classroom in a timely fashion,” he said. “In this new system, tenure will be a privilege, not a right. It will be earned and retained through effective teaching, not by counting years of service.”
Do you think teacher tenure needs to be reformed? Tell us in the comments.
Lou
9:33 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
TENURE FOR TEACHER'S IS DEFINITELY A NEGATIVE AND SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. wHY SHOULD TEACHER'S BE ABLE TO HIDE BEHIND A UNION DRIVEN WEDGE . UNIONS ARE (HAVE) DESTROYING THE EDUCATION SYSTEM JUST LIKE THEY ARE DESTROYING JOBS IN AMERICA. IT IS GREED THAT AMERICANS HAVE ACCEPTED OVER THE YEARS AND IS NOW NEGATIVELY AFFEXCTING JOBS FOR MIDDLE AMERICA.
C. Alexander
10:23 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
Kill the unions so we can completely eliminate the middle class! We'll have burger flippers and Mitt Romneys... and nothing in between. FYI, Predatory lending/ investing ruined America.. The offenders served no jail time and even got paid their bonuses as they took the whole economy down so let's not get carried away demonizing unions. Why do unions get blamed, but not Goldmann Sachs? This is exactly what Corporate America wants. All of us little people beating each other up for the crumbs, while they make off with all the bread and everyones adoration. Talk about welfare.. how about corporate welfare! How quickly we've all forgotten about that big chunk of change. It's easier to blame unions, but the blame is misplaced.
Glen K Dunbar
3:38 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I wish I could have a job where Tenure existed and I could not be let go no matter what unless of course I did something real bad. But, generally could just work w/o
fear.
Glen
E.X. Teecher
6:30 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Take 2: Really what a shock?
Lou: What's shocking is that if you disagree your message is deleted. Mine was, as I agreed with your view.
TENURE = Bad Idea
Public Service Employees Unions = Terrible Idea
Genelle
9:47 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Teachers have one of the most challenging jobs in America. Educating students with so many varying needs that extend far beyond academics...teachers deal with every aspect of a child: the physical,emotional,socio-economic,and academic challenges students face today are far beyond what they were years ago. Spend one day in a classroom and see the challenges faced by a teacher on a daily basis that extend far beyond academic achievement. LISTEN to the concerns of teachers who try desperately to tell the government officials what is needed to help their students perform better academically.Try reducing class sizes, and giving appropriate support for students with special needs. Support the social workers and school psychologists efforts to improve the home lives of these kids!!!! Provide parenting classes, and mandate pre school for all children. It takes a village to raise a child...yet all too often, the expectation is that teachers should pick up the pieces and make it work! Soon you won't have to worry about getting bad teachers fired, because all the good ones will quit!!! Show some support and respect for a profession that is so important, educating our chilren!
DM
1:57 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Gennelle,
Agree with most everything you wrote. That said teachers should not be above reproach. What other profession enjoys tenure? On top of this most teachers are unionized.
Thats like having as much teflon as Corzine!
Mike
8:39 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Unions have gained 2 much power. They need to show more for the money. I do feel the majority of teachers have earned their position, but for those who haven't, it's difficult to get rid of them and hire someone who is qualified and will work hard. IT's the same with Police and Fire departments, they ask for more but offer less.
Mike
8:42 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The parents should be graded as well. Teachers can't do everything, and they shouldn't be blamed for poorly raised children of parents who don't do their part. Malloy's son is a perfect example, are the teachers to blame for him selling drugs or smoking 2 much pot??? No, it's the parents.