CARL BOGARDUS spoke of Tenure to DAN TRIPLETT on 06-29-97
CB> DT> Isolated examples hardly make any point so I see no reason to
CB> DT> read  through the 35 pages of lawyer mumbo-jumbo.....
CB> DT> anyway, I don't have tenure and don't know of anyone who
CB>does.... I do, we call it due process.  Actually it works very well,
CB>the principals that keep good records on teachers that are not doing
CB>what they should be have no trouble getting the teacher fired.
CB>Teachers are protected from political firings, etc.. I like it and it
CB>works pretty good here.
We have due process here as well.  But it is not the same as Tenure.  
Tenure, as I'm sure you are aware, is a guarantee of "permanence of 
position" usually granted after a specified number of years of teaching.  
due process
 —n. An established course for judicial proceedings or other 
governmental activities designed to safeguard the legal rights of the 
individual.
tenure
tenure  (tén´yŹr), in education, a guarantee of the permanence of a 
school, college, or university teacher's position, awarded upon 
successful completion of a probationary period. Tenure provides job 
security and tends to reinforce ACADEMIC FREEDOM. Critics argue that it 
lessens diligence, protects incompetent teachers, and limits 
opportunities for young teachers. An institution may dismiss a tenured 
teacher for cause after due process or as a result of financial 
exigencies.
I think this is why Matt opposes it.....the cases he cited a case where 
there was clear abuse by a teacher and tenure protected that teacher 
from firing.  I'm not clear how prevalent this type of thing is but I 
have seen borderline teachers who clearly crossed the line routinely 
(throwing erasers at kids not paying attention, grabbing and shaking, 
yelling) and never was anything done.  Had the administration kept good 
records of the abuse and sought to remove this individual from the 
profession, she/he would have been gone long ago.  As it is, she/he 
retired this year after nearly 30 years of service.  Since we do not 
have tenure as defined above, a teacher in our district is not protected 
by it.  Rather, they are protected from unwarranted disciplinary 
measures, including firings, by due process.
Any further thoughts?
Regards,
Dan
dhtriplett@aol.com
Have a great summer Carl.....!!  And Happy 4th!    
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