CA: In Search Of Problem Teachers (teacher tenure initiative)

SF Chronicle ^ | Monday, July 11, 2005 | Louis Freedberg

[calcowgirl]

UNIQUE AMONG education reformers, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has zeroed in on underperforming teachers as a principal reason why millions of California students are doing so poorly in our schools. The initiative he is pushing to make it more difficult for teachers to get "tenure" is a classic case of a solution in search of problem.

Let's put aside for the moment the fact that teachers don't actually get tenure. They get "permanent status," which still means under state law they can be fired for all kinds of reasons, including inadequate performance. But they are entitled to a hearing and other due-process rights before they can be booted out.

Never mind that, when I directly asked the governor about the problem six months ago, he told me most teachers are doing a "spectacular" job.

What puzzles me is that neither he nor his allies have been able to come up with any meaningful data to support his contention . . .

I called the folks at the California Recovery Team, established by Schwarzenegger to run his initiative campaigns, to see what they could provide. They sent me a 6-year-old newspaper article about an incompetent and abusive teacher in San Bernardino whom her district struggled to fire -- based on her performance from 1993 to 1996.

The only actual statistic the "Team" came up with was from the Los Angeles Unified School district, also dating back to 1999. It contends that during a 10-year-period, the Office of Administrative Hearings, an obscure Sacramento agency that handles teacher dismissals, convened only 13 hearing panels to deal with Los Angeles teachers and, of those cases, only one "went from beginning to end."

[Paloma_55]

Before I get flamed for my "Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics" line as being to trite....

Note the number of dismissed teachers claimed under the premise of how easy it is to do... does not distinguish between new teachers and tenured teachers.

In other words, the vast likelihood is that the big number of teachers dismissed are non-tenured.

The reason tenured teachers are not fired is because they get a "reasonable proceeding"... reasonable being defined by the teachers's union as "virtually impossible to make a case" by the normal human being.

[abclily]

Plus the fact that the education organizations are consulted on which textbooks should be on the Title I list for purchase. Textbooks being dumbed down = less learning = lower test scores = cry by unions for smaller class size = more teachers hired = more union dues. Unions always win, since they are controlling the entire education situation. I wish parents were aware of this.

[leanoray]

Your calculations are embarrassingly primitive: Please check this reasoned defense for teachers making $90,000 per year. You may need to brush up on your calculus to understand it.
http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2003/03/teacher_pay.html

[leanoray]

I would like to know your qualifications to judge a good teacher?

If by chance your child takes physics or calculus, are you qualified to evaluate my degrees awarded, the prestige of the universities I attended, or my content knowledge.

Have you read my master's thesis on plant canopy thermodynamics? Have you evaluated my Ph.D. work? Have you observed my laboratory work with my students? Would you even know what you were doing?

I suggest your comment is a bit extreme and almost redneck in its tone. I caution you because it can prejudice your grandchildren against the rigors of education: If it is hard, it is the teacher's fault.

If your children fail to get a solid education their incomes will suffer.

[dk/coro]

I shant demean myself with a reply to your clap-trap

[leanoray]

I am a retired Naval Officer, educated physicist, with an advanced degree in mathematical physics, and I can confidently say that not a single poster on this thread could confidently and accurately evaluate what I do on a daily basis.

The posts on this thread are redneck in tone and intent: None of you know advanced mathematics or physics, or economics for that matter.

Your bile and bitterness will poison your children against trying hard in school. And it will be your fault.

[leanoray]

The Free Republic is published in the redneck capital of the world: Fresno.

Please read Thomas Sowell's book on the redneck culture.

This thread is brimming with redneck contempt for educated people.

[Jim Robinson]

Y'all don't cut the grade. Buh bye, troll.
Spit.

[abclily]

You need calculus to do simple division? I don't. Most people learn the algorithms of arithmetic at a very young age. You didn't learn arithmetic until you studied calculus? And you think I should be embarrassed? Whoever attempted to educate you should be embarrassed.

[Osage Orange]

And I am not a member of the NEA.:)

Butt....R U..a Rednek?

[abclily]

Were you referring to 'NBER Working Paper Series'? Is that the reasoned defense I should read on that site, or am I looking at the wrong thing?

[abclily]

I beg to differ with you. I went to the site you told me to check out. Started reading 'NBER Working Papers Series' - needs some serious editing. Who did your editing?

[Osage Orange]

If by chance your child takes physics or calculus, are you qualified to evaluate my degrees awarded, the prestige of the universities I attended, or my content knowledge.

Mayebe's...i canknot tell wethers yous one of dem jeanous's....butts i wood no if u twas ignert or knot.

I's meeted manies folk dat hollers bout dim be'in reel wright quik figure'ers...butt's day most'y dummer dan waatermelons.....