END THE TEACHER TENURE SCAM

This week we reported on the case of two South Orange Maplewood School District teachers who were cited for either improper behavior or lack of accountability and slated for firing, but able to keep their jobs because of the antiquated tenure system.

This system, which for some reason is allowed to remain, allows teachers to be given lifetime jobs if they stay with the same school district for more than four years. What other profession does this?

Some changes have occurred, with Gov. Chris Christie signing a bill last year that pushed the tenure year start date to take place after four years rather than the previous three, while adding some other requirements.

But still, school districts are basiclaly stuck with teachers who, in many cases, do not deseve their jobs or are not held accountable.

In the cases we sought, the district had to go to an administrative law judge to plead their case, ultimately turned down in each instance with the teachers given lengthy suspensions, but allowed to return to work.

I am a major supporter of teachers and believe that all of the teachers my children have had in this district have been outstanding. Teaching children and keeping them disciplined is among the hardest jobs in the world, and often not rewarded nearly enough.

But, at the same time, the tenure system also punishes non-tenured teachers who are forced out of jobs simply because the district does not want to be stuck with more teachers it has to employ. 

Until something is done to phase out this practice, perhaps giving current tenured teachers the protection, but lifting it for future teachers and allowing districts to hire teachers beyond four years without being stuck with lifetime employment, things will to change and we will be denied the best possible teaching staff we can have, and our kids deserve.