[Erik Latranyi]

I'll grant that it's much harder with people who have been in the system for years...

OK, minor point.

Do you know a teacher with tenure that has ever been fired?!

Where does the concept of tenure even come from?! How do people with such an important job (as they describe it) get something called tenure when nobody else does!?

[alvindsv]

Erik, even as a teacher I will agree with you that tenure is a stupid idea. The concept that it is nearly impossible to fire someone simply because they have been at a job for certain amount of time is ludicrous.

If I preform poorly and my students are not learning then I EXPECT to be fired, regardless if it's year 1 or year 21.

[Amelia]

Do you know a teacher with tenure that has ever been fired?!

Yes, several. It is more difficult, but it can be done.

Where does the concept of tenure even come from?!

As I understand it, it came from the concept of taking politics out of the educational process to some extent - for instance, if the teacher doesn't give the school board president's child an "A", deserved or not, or if a school board member needs an opening so his son-in-law can get a job...