The Removal of Teacher Tenure
There are so many definitions in the education industry, that it can be hard to keep up at times with the different terms which are used to describe various elements of this sector. Teacher tenure is something which is given to educators who have proven commitment to educational service - if they have taught loyally and with dedication for years on end, they can be a viable candidate for such a status.
Before we debate about the removal of teacher tenure, it can be worthwhile for us to understand exactly what it is - as well as what it means. Teacher tenure allows an educator to have some permanency to their job, and they can only lose it through a severe breach of the rules and regulations which surround teaching.
There have been detailed studies into teacher tenure and the advantages and disadvantages of the safeguarding of jobs. Like in any employment market, there were once fears that some of the more veteran educators in a school could be succeeded by some fresher graduates who would have been more willing to take a pay cut. In some respects, tenure secures valuable and dedicated educators who prove good value for money because of their expertise.
There are always two sides to every story - and there will be some people who argue that teacher tenure can get in the way of removing teachers who might not deserve the status which they have been given. There are also beliefs that some tenured teachers shouldn't even be allowed to educate students because of their work ethic and their approach to learning. As such, there have been thoughts about the removal of teacher tenure - allowing for teachers to be on a more even playing ground and allowing for educators to be more accountable, without the safeguard of a tenure implicating complacency like in some circumstances.
Teacher tenure is also a sign of prestige, and some would argue that a prestigious teacher is likely to be lured into a prestigious academy or private school - allowing for them to benefit from the expansive materials which many of these organizations can afford to have. However, there are some debates that this can mean a shortage of talented staff for areas with a low socio-economic background, meaning that some of the most vulnerable students who need an intensive and an experienced educator do not get what they need.
Because of the contracts which can be signed, there can be some finality which are associated with tenure - against the beliefs that as technology and the teaching environment changes, some educators might not be able to adapt to the new circumstances; affecting their performance. Even though the circumstances which are associated with this type of job security for educators is unlikely to change, there will be some people who will strongly support a re-think into the way that the American educational system is constructed, and how teachers are rewarded for the hard work they do daily.