Education
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With the economy tanking and states cutting funding for education, many schools are left with little choice, but to cut teachers in an effort to save money. The primary way the decisions have been made is by seniority with the newest teachers being laid off, first.
Besides parents, teachers are the primary influence in a child’s life and a good teacher is worth her weight in gold. Yet excellent teachers are being let go, sometimes leaving the profession entirely, just because they happen to be the last hired.
Growing up, I remember horrible teachers that somehow kept their jobs because they happened to have been hired in good financial times, while energetic and caring teachers were let go. I understand the idea of seniority from a teacher’s stand point. A teacher that has been there for years has roots in the town and community while a new teacher isn’t established. The community hasn’t become home yet. There also needs to be reliable criteria for letting teachers go and seniority is as good as any.As a parent, I want my child to receive the best education possible, and if that comes from a new teacher versus an entrenched teacher, then so be it. Also, teachers that have been at a district for years have higher salaries and school boards could let go of less teachers overall.
It’s a sticky situation with no clear winner, but I cannot agree with using seniority as the only criteria for laying off teachers in response to financial strain. In these tough economic times, these teachers may have to hop from district to district, one job to the next, because they are constantly being let go due to their lack of experience.
Tell me, dads and moms, what can be done to secure the best education for our children? Which is more important; an entrenched teacher with a mediocre work history or a new, dynamic hire with energy and drive to change the world. Sound off.
I grew up in your typical public school system. The classrooms were full, and the teachers worked double-time, all the time. Some of the kids were well-dressed and some smelled a little... different. I’m not really sure where I fit into the scheme of things, realistically, though I have pretty vivid memories of where I believed myself to be. The library had Apple II’s and Oregon Trail. My 3rd grade teacher was rumoured to be something of a hot-head who had been disciplined for overly harsh disciplining. He was a mean square-baller. Mean. To beat him was to be on top of the world.
