AFT’s Weingarten: Don’t Blame Tenure for Bad Teachers

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/10/05/afts-weingarten-dont-blame-tenure-for-bad-teachers/

by James Parks, Oct 5, 2010

The documentary “Waiting for Superman,” while it offers some valid points, ultimately makes it seem like the nation’s public school classrooms are filled with incompetent, bad teachers and the teachers’ unions keep them there by granting them tenure or a lifetime job. That’s just not true and is a distraction from addressing the real problems in our schools, says AFT President Randi Weingarten.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQa1Qu2Uec0

In a commentary on “CBS Sunday Morning” this past weekend, Weingarten takes on the issue of tenure head-on (see video above). No one should tolerate bad teachers, Weingarten said, but blaming unions and firing large numbers of teachers is not the answer.

The reality, she says, is that most schools do a poor job of evaluating and supporting teachers. She also points out that administrators, not teachers’ unions, grant tenure. AFT has proposed a model teacher evaluation system that includes revamping preparatory programs for teachers and overhauling teacher development and evaluations. Find out more about AFT’s proposals here.

Most teachers do an outstanding job and there is no ”epidemic of bad teachers in the classroom.”

The vast majority of teachers are incredibly talented and work hard to make a difference in their students’ lives.

When a problem with a teacher is spotted, Weingarten says, mentors and coaches should step in and help. Principals should do their jobs and monitor what’s going on in the classrooms so problems don’t fester. When a teacher still doesn’t measure up after getting help and support in a good evaluation system, then he or she should be dismissed, says Weingarten.

Teachers alone cannot solve the problem of bad teachers and problems in our schools, Weingarten says. Everyone—teachers, administrators, parents and community—must work together to find a solution.