Do you think tenure for teachers/professors should be based on performance and f

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   ChristinSposted 12 years ago

   Do you think tenure for teachers/professors should be based on performance and feedback?
   
   Does tenure sometimes lead to poor performance without consequences for the instructor, particularly at the college level?  For example my college allows retired teachers with tenure to return and teach whenever they want (even the less than stellar instructors) which sometimes doesn't make room for newer instructors who may be more proficient.   Experience doesn't always mean "better quality"..What are your thoughts?

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   dmopposted 12 years ago

   I think tenure is a big problem in the educational field. We should all be held accountable for our actions and our performance in our respective fields. Just my opinion.

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      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I tend to agree.  Teachers do deserve respect yes - but in no other field do you find tenure.  There are no tenured nurses, doctors, etc. If they screw up they lose their license or get fired.  It seems to me tenure provides too much protection for l

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   Cherrietgeeposted 12 years ago

   I have been in education for the past thirteen years, and I have always thought that teachers should be rated on their performance rather than simply awarded tenure after three or four years of service.
   
   Over the years, I have encountered teachers who didn't appear to like children, who were not very knowledgeable in their field, and who were highly disorganized,  yet they were assured a position year after year simply because they had tenured. Conversely, there were other teachers who were younger, passionate about their craft, and really good, but they were let go in recent cuts at a number of school districts around the nation.
   
   If we really want to do what's right for kids, we need to revamp the whole tenure process.

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      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you.  I completely agree and I totally respect and commend teachers for what they have to endure.  I know it's an often thankless job, however this is one system that I don't see applied anywhere else and I think the system is broken.

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   TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years ago

   Many people do not understand the concept of tenure.  90% of those who teach are good at it, care about students and know their subject matter.  The 10% who are slackers make people think all teachers have an easy go of it.
   
   All teachers are held accountable for their actions.  If you don't believe me, spend some time in the classroom, talk to some teachers, find out just how poorly they are treated by parents, politicians and administrators.
   
   For many, tenure is the only thing that protects them from spiteful administrators who simply dislike them and would rather have someone in the classroom who kisses up than someone who really knows how to teach.  A better question is this:  who is allowing those in charge (meaning administrators) to get away with the horrible corruption that goes on in our schools.

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      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I understand teaching can be a thankless job and I do appreciate the importance of good teachers.  There are many jobs where people who work hard are not appreciated enough.  When is the last time you saw a tenured nurse? Tenure was meant to protect

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   kthix10posted 12 years ago

   As a teacher and administrator I can see both sides.  Even tenure doesn't protect everyone these days, many districts are cutting so far that they are cutting into their tenured staff.  If the positions are cut a tenure teacher will be let go.  There are very few bad teachers that remain just for the fact that they are tenured.  I have helped document to remove a tenured teacher, not an easy process but it is possible. 
   
   I have also worked in a private school with at will employment and seen a spiteful administrator fire a teacher mid year because they challenged their thinking about a student.  As a teacher aren't we trained to fight for our students?
   
   Also what you may believe is a bad teacher may be meeting someone else's learning needs.  Sometimes we do need to suffer through teachers that aren't perfect but then again no one is perfect.

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      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I understand what you're saying, but in no other field is it as hard to fire someone who does not do their job well.  Teaching is so important that I don't think anyone "should have to suffer".  No one is perfect, but everyone in a position of this i

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   hectordangposted 12 years ago

   I don't think tenure should be allowed. If i got tenure, it would make me lazy because I know that I'd be untouchable! Everyone should get evaluated and be judged by the quality of the work they produce! We need to put the best in front of our children! They deserve nothing less!

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      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I agree to a point.  I think tenure should be based on continued performance if we were to keep it in place.  I don't think tenure in and of itself makes people lazy - educators who are passionate about teaching will be regardless of tenure.  I do be

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