>The article at the link below, titled “A Brief History of Tenure”, appeared in Time Magazine in November of 2008. Please go to the link and read the article. It provides an interesting evolution of tenure and illustrates how it was intended for “distinguished and published professors” and is not appropriate for K-12 teachers. The model adopted by Oregon in 1997 sounds like a GREAT approach. In that year, Oregon abolished tenure and replaced it with 2-year renewable contracts and a rehabilitation program for underachieving instructors.
I (and I believe most Ridgewood residents) want high caliber teachers, who are well paid. Perhaps if teachers began working WITH the community and were receptive to being held accountable, they would realize that the community stands behind our most effective and inspirational teachers and administrators. This article could very well have been written last night after “tone deaf” teachers cast a cowardly and disgraceful vote AGAINST the community and threw their non-tenured bretheren to the street.
The conclusion of the article says it all…”Whatever the problem, most teachers and administrators agree the status quo isn’t working and that change can’t come too soon. Announcing her plan last month, Rhee said, ‘Students cannot wait for accountable teachers while adults argue’.”
When will ALL Ridgewood teachers hold themselves accountable?
https://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1859505,00.html
