Teacher tenure debate

Social studies teacher and Castro Valley Teachers Association president John Green and CVHS junior Savanah Khan participated in a heated debate on teacher tenure, a controversial issue that attracted students and teachers alike to the overflowed lunch meeting of the Junior State of America (JSA) club on Oct. 30.

What exactly is teacher tenure? Technically speaking, teacher tenure is a policy restricting public schools’  ability to fire teachers, requiring a “just case” rationale for firing. It provides job security for teachers who have successfully completed a probationary period of two years. Although this policy has been around for decades, it is starting to stir up controversy between students and educators across the country.

Green commenced the debate with a shocking statistic, passing out two different flyers of eye-popping red and crisp white, filled with facts to back up his position.
“Fifty-one percent of Americans are anti-black, ageist, homophobic, and/or prejudiced in some way, according to a new study released just recently. Tenure, or permanent status, is protection against those prejudices. It also protects students from having their teacher pressured by outside groups,” Green boomed across the classroom.

As a subsequent speaker, junior Lee Ann Shaffer explained, “Teacher tenure actually helps out more people than just teachers. My dad is also a teacher with tenure. In this bad economy, it makes me feel supported and reassured to know that my dad has a job that won’t go away and will pay the bills,” she argued.

On the other hand, Khan, the main speaker against teacher tenure, argued how teacher tenure is detrimental to the growth of a student’s progress. She pointed out that not all teachers with tenure can teach sufficiently or efficiently, rendering their tenure harmful to all students.

Khan continued to explain that teacher tenure put students in an unfair position because if the teacher does not instruct adequately, it is the students’ education on the line. She also mentioned how not all, but some, teachers who receive tenure may end up not giving as much effort into their job as they normally would.

“Fifty-one percent from 1975 actually taught at the same pace their whole career. That dropped to 31 percent in 2007,” Khan pointed out. “That shows how the quality of teaching has substantially gone down, which in the end affects students’ futures,” she underlined.

With all those facts and opinions lined up, it was evident to see the line between the two sides. But which one do you agree with? Will you side with the informed CVTA president Green’s argument that encompasses how tenure protects teachers from prejudices and provides a much needed job security in this economy? Or do you believe that “tenure is outdated and useless, and is being abused by teachers across the nation,” like Khan?

The debate concluded with a vote at the end, which tallied up to five votes for Khan, 23 votes for Green, and four abstentions, solidifying Green’s stance on pro-teacher tenure. Although Green won this debate, grumbles were still heard throughout the audience.

How do you feel about this topic, and many other issues facing our school and country? Come voice your opinion at JSA in room 112 on Tuesdays at lunch!