Lawsuit takes on California teachers’ job protections
By Stephen Ceasar, Los Angeles Times
Local school districts, state legislators and even a California governor have tried to limit teachers’ job protections, among the most generous in the country. Efforts have all failed to rid public schools of ineffective teachers by making it easier to fire them and tougher for them to gain tenure and by stripping them of seniority rights.
Now proponents are taking their fight to another venue: the courtroom. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge will hear arguments this week over the constitutionality of laws that govern California’s teacher tenure rules, seniority policies and the dismissal process — an overhaul of which could upend controversial job security for instructors.
The lawsuit, filed by the nonprofit, advocacy group Students Matter, contends that these education laws are a violation of the Constitution’s equal protection guarantee because they do not ensure that all students have access to an adequate education.
I hope this idea moves forward. I believe that seniority should buy you some things, like accruals – but there are too many inadequate teachers who lean on their union rights to keep their jobs. They should have to pass “competency rigors” annually, just like the students have to. Medical professionals have to achieve minimal CME units every year — even Realtors have to hone & prove their skills. If teachers don’t cut the mustard, they should lose status — just like most of the working world. I have met/heard teachers who don’t use proper English, etc. — not a very good example to students.
Maybe the parents of the underperforming students should look at school like an educational opportunity, not free day care.
Maybe we should abolish worthless ESL programs that waste dollars and teaches kids to be illiterate in two languages.
Maybe students should be accountable for showing up, paying attention and completing assignments.
Colleges are over-subscribed every year with graduates applying for public and private schools….SAT scores above 2000.
Stop crying…teachers do a great job.
The culpability begins and ends with the parents and the students.