Trading Tenure for Better Teaching
A great post on the importance of having teachers who are passionate about education, reflective of their teaching practice, and willing to make the changes necessary to truly facilitate and promote learning.
The report, “Great Expectations: Teachers’ Views on Elevating the Teaching Profession,” highlights data from Teach Plus’ recent national survey of teachers, showing that 42% of earlier-career teachers (called the “new majority” in the report) support more performance-based tenure and compensation systems, compared to just 15% of my fellow veterans.
As a teacher who has just crossed the line from new majority to veteran status, I understand how experienced teachers feel about the protections afforded them by the tenure system.
I understand because I’ve put in the time and effort necessary to establish myself in the school system. I understand because I, too, value my job security. Sometimes I even understand that it’s easy to get comfortable and fall into doing the same old thing.
But the current lack of accountability is bringing our profession down.
While I value the tenure I’ve been granted, I would be willing to give up that protection to move our profession toward one that emphasizes performance.
Find the full post here on School of Thought.
black board, white chalk 