Tenure: Right or Wrong?

Ordinarily I would shy away from subjects like this, but in these economic times when the public needs not only a scapegoat that they can blame, but one that they can vote on. Tenure has become one of the things debated, and I recently had a discussion with a buddy of mine on a recent train ride to the city...

Now here is an intelligent person that often makes informed decisions, yet I find that in this area of conversation he was misinformed. If your life and career was outside education, think to the setting of your own experiences. First of all, let's assume that you went to public, not private school. Next, I assume that your school experience was quite a few years ago especially if you're talking about elementary education. Things have changed and I don't mean just computers. Federal and State mandates are placing more into our curriculum. Educators and administrators are also placing more in to meet the demands of the 21st century. Many teachers introduce even more material simply because they are passionate about a subject or perhaps there was a teachable moment and his or her students wanted to do 'more'.

In any event, the classroom has changed and we have had to change along with it. This is a good thing in many aspects, but it has its disadvantages too. In any event, Mirriam Webster defines tenure as "a status granted after a trial period to a teacher that gives protection from summary dismissal". This means that your boss cannot fire you simply because he or she wants to. It cannot be done hastily, and there must be reasons for your dismissal. Police officers have this same right. It is not a 'job for life'. It is not an entry card into the lazy, do-nothing hall of fame. It is simply protection against hasty termination. Add to that the fact that the person has to prove themselves for at least three years.

Working in the private sector has plenty of advantages, but the one thing that is not afforded by most is that same due process. If your boss doesn't like you personally, or he/she wants to move you out of a position or job to bring someone else in, all he or she has to do is terminate you. There is little that you can do short of bringing a civil suit. Due process offers you protection from this. It must be proven that you have not fulfilled your responsibilities or broken the rules. Isn't this something that private sector employees would love to have? In the corporate world, you are just a number. In a school, you are a member of a family. Yes, there are some businesses that are like a family, but they are disappearing as more and more companies care only about the bottom line.

I hope that schools are never run as businesses. Yes, we are in the business of educating children and helping them to grow into the best that they can be, but this is not a cookie cutter factory that produces widgets. This is not a financial institution that invests money for its customers. This is not a vendor that sells products to its customers that use pretty packaging and a slick advertising campaign.

We are teachers that are given the gift and responsibility of playing a role in the lives of the students that enter our classrooms day after day. We face challenges from their lives, our own lives, state and federal curriculum mandates, state and federal funding (or lack thereof), proposed tax caps (Cuomo are you kidding me???), district initiatives, time constraints, public perception (New York Newsday just loves to blast schools and the police - tune the hate out!), and other things.

The key to redefining education and making sure that our children are ready for the challenges of tomorrow requires informed decision making. It will not be easy, but I'm pretty sure that the solution is not cutting funds and laying off teaching staff. We all know how tough the economic times are. People are losing their homes, and many of are struggling to pay bills the best they can. Teachers live here too, and we are also facing the same things. The government can write a huge check for banks, but when it comes to education and our children, it seems like the wallet is empty.

I love my job, and I am grateful that tenure offers me protection from wrongful termination after I have proven myself. Perhaps the private sector is jealous of this protection. I think they should try to incorporate it into their jobs instead of eliminating it from ours. I think it would be better for everyone if we were all treated fairly instead of unfairly. What do you think is most equitable?