Are teachers willing to do away with the tenure track?

Question

And maintain their employment based on merit like the rest of us?

Answer 1

By surveying the answers (ranting angry responses) to your questions by "teachers" I deduce the answers to your questions are:

"No, teachers are unwilling to do away with the tenure track."

and

"No, they think they should maintain their employment 'just because'-- not based on merit."

The teachers who "answered" your question are the epitome of sacred cows, people who think they should be be immune to criticism.

Answer 2

Hi John A-I am John A, too. All I have to say is looking at the mean-spirited responses you received from tenured teachers the answer to your question is "No."

No, because they would never get away with treating people in business the way they treat students. They could not vent their frustrations the way they do unless they were secure in their tenured positions.

In my work place you have to perform, be polite, sometimes you have to suck it up and stay quiet. Otherwise you get fired...unlike teachers who basically cannot get fired.

As for complaining about free trips to Europe-give me a big break. If you hate your free trips to Europe so much don't go-I doubt the free trips are a compulsory part of your job.

Answer 3

The largest problem that exists with paying teachers based on the merit of their students is it would widen the achievement gap. First of all, if I know my salary is based on my students, then I'm only going to take assignments where I can teach smart rich white kids who are already on a track to get me a great salary. Why should I mess with kids who come into my school, don't speak English, AND are illiterate in their own country? Of course they are going to score poorly on standardized tests! Why should I spend my time slaving away trying to motivate the girl who's pregnant to keep coming to school when she'd just bring down my average class score? I should just encourage her to drop out!

Although a little over the top, I believe the above example shows one of the largest problems with merit based pay.

As far as tenure? I do believe there should be a system where teachers are evaluated with plenty of failsafes in it, where a determined principal or administrator would have a difficult, but not impossible time of removing a teacher. BUT WAIT! THAT SYSTEM ALREADY EXISTS!!!! (In California, that is.)

Administrators have been known to pull some pretty fancy strings to balance a budget, including replacing qualified higher paid teachers with underqualified lower salaried teachers.

Teachers already maintain their employment based on merit, "like the rest of us." We work hard and deal with some problems most people aren't even aware of. We ARE held accountable, and are required to complete HOURS of training EVERY year.

Answer 4

Your question is worded in an insulting manner.

I can only speak personally - I would love to be paid on "merit". So when I give up my entire vacation time to take children to Europe, act as a travel agent and courier to save them money, spend hours researching what will be the best educational experience for them, drive to their homes to teach them when they are unable to come to school, spend a minimum of 3 hours every evening on grading, eat lunch while teaching my independent study student, receive phone calls at home from concerned parents, and attend a multitude of events to show them support that some never get from their parents I would get paid for this, too, instead of the time required by the contract. Why do you think that teacher unions tell teachers to "work to the contract" when districts want to cut medical benefits or not give an increase in pay to match inflation? Because at this time districts realize how invaluable their teachers are.

And yes, in answering this, I have given myself more work to do this evening.


Edited to respond to Bud - a trip to Europe with high school students is not a vacation - I WORK during that time. I would much rather go somewhere with my OWN children, my OWN family, and not worry about constantly about my students losing their passports and getting pickpocketed. Perhaps, Bud, you need to understand that responsibility for others is WORK - but perhaps you are only responsible for yourself and comprehending the enormity of the task is out of your range of intellect.

Answer 5

As a former teacher, I had to respond.

Do your raw materials that you use for your job come in assorted sizes, packages, with various attitudes and backgrounds, or are your raw materials all the same?

Do you have a group of elected citizens or incompetent administrators with personal axes to grind watching you who could make your job a living nightmare?

Are you willing to spend some of your paycheck because you know it will be helpful to your job and the boss won't buy it for you?

Have you ever had to call child protective services?

Do you lay awake at night and worrying that one of your raw materials may be getting the stuffing beaten out of him/her while you lay snuggly in your bed?

Do you freely spend the last two weeks of your 'vacation' sprucing up and decorating the workplace so it will be attractive and inviting, yet promote learning, respect, and self-esteem?

Stay where you are. You don't have what it takes to teach!!

Answer 6

Look at Caryn R answer man! She is going to Europe for free and acting like its a burden! She is whining about going to Europe for free! That is the way tenure affects them.

The answer is they will never let go of those jobs (where they get to go to Europe for free!) -they will not let go until they can no longer physically get themselves down to the schools.

Answer 7

Of course they're not. And what do you mean "like the rest of us"? Ever heard of a union? Unions infect this country from coast to coast. Its not just teachers that keep their jobs due to a contract.

Answer 8

Here, here to jehut!

This is a question that just displays your ignorance of the realities of the education system in America. It is inflammatory, insincere and toxic.