Tenure for Teachers

In regards to the discussions and material on teachers’ tenure, I believe that it is an issue that needs to be addressed.  I believe that the very nature of the tenure system encourages or at least permits sub par performance from teachers.  With little to no accountability for tenured teachers, many of the tenured teachers quit pushing the boundaries of their teachings and teaching styles.  Also, what makes the tenure system appropriate for teaching when it is not used for businesspeople, nurses, or law enforcement agents? I believe that most teachers continue to put forth effort upon reaching tenure, but it is obvious that some teachers do not.  It is these teachers that ruin it for the rest, but because of these teachers I believe that the tenure system should be disposed of.

Education

It has been proposed that teachers be paid based upon their results as seen in their students.  In all likelihood, these “results” would be based on standardized test scores.  There is a big problem with this, however.  That problem is that not all teachers start with the same students.  Any teacher could get high test scores from students that come from wealthy, stable families.  A great teacher, however, might get bad test scores from a class of students that come from abusive homes.  Also, this raises the question of how to pay teachers that teach handicapped students or students that learn at slower rates.  I do agree that teachers deserve to make more money.  Also, by paying teachers more, brighter students will pursue teaching as a career, and the level of teaching will increase. The money to pay teachers more, however, will have to come from somewhere, and right now I do not know where that money would come from.