Talk Back-Fight Back
Welcome to our new talking points page: Talk Back-Fight Back.
It's never been more important as educators to engage the people in our lives--family members, neighbors, everyone--in conversations to help dispel the misinformation about public education that's harming our students, our schools, and our profession. This new page is intended to help us all have the facts about important educational issues on the tips of our tongues so, when the time arises, we can all Talk Back-Fight Back.
Come back to this page often--we'll be updating it with new topics throughout the year, and please share it with your colleagues!
It's never been more important as educators to engage the people in our lives--family members, neighbors, everyone--in conversations to help dispel the misinformation about public education that's harming our students, our schools, and our profession. This new page is intended to help us all have the facts about important educational issues on the tips of our tongues so, when the time arises, we can all Talk Back-Fight Back.
Come back to this page often--we'll be updating it with new topics throughout the year, and please share it with your colleagues!
The Issue: TENURE
Tenure is under attack in New York State. Campbell Brown's Partnership for Educational Justice has brought a lawsuit, Wright v. New York, to challenge the state's tenure law. Here are some links to helpful sources about the importance of tenure and why it benefits our students and protects the educational process.
Talking Points
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WHEN THEY SAY:
"Tenure means a guaranteed job for life." |
YOU SAY:
Tenure is about due process, not about guaranteeing jobs for life. In New York State, teachers serve a 3-year probationary period, when school officials evaluate those teachers' job performance. If, after 3 years, the local school board votes to grant a teacher tenure, it simply means that a teacher has the right to a fair hearing on charges that could end a career. |
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"Good teachers don't need tenure."
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Tenure's NOT about protecting "bad" teachers; it's about safeguarding good teachers. Tenure ensures good teachers can speak up for what students need. Because tenure exists, teachers can speak out freely about overtesting, cuts in academic programs, elimination of art, music and language and inappropriate placements for students with disabilities.
Because of tenure, teachers can engage their students in a free exchange of ideas. It protects against discrimination because it prevents school boards from arbitrarily dismissing teachers for holding political, religious or social views with which they disagree. It protects academic freedom and safeguards against cronyism and nepotism. |
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"Because of tenure, a teacher can never be fired."
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A district can bring charges at any time against a tenured teacher or teaching assistant for insubordination, conduct unbecoming a teacher, inefficiency, incompetence, physical or mental disability, neglect of duty, failure to maintain certification or immoral character. Many checkpoints are in place to allow teachers who can't make the grade to voluntarily exit or be counseled out of the profession.
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Source: adapted from NYSUT: What to Say When The Talk Turns To Tenure
