Our SLCTA protects our tenure. Many States have already lost theirs. If we’re next, are you ready to give up yours?
Note* California does not technically have tenure for K-12 teachers. The correct term is “permanency.”
1. Tenure protects teachers from being fired for personal, political, or other non-work related reasons.
2. Tenure prohibits school districts from firing experienced teachers to hire less experienced and less expensive teachers.
3. The School Board technically selects the standards, curriculum, textbooks, etc. (unless there is some language stating otherwise in the contract that I am unaware of). So teachers aren’t allowed to do whatever they please.
4. The promise of a secure and stable job attracts many teachers to the teaching profession.
5. Tenure helps guarantee innovation in teaching.
6. Teacher tenure is a justifiable reward for two years of positive evaluations for those who start as probationary.
7. Tenure is a good system that has become a scapegoat for problems facing education.
8. Tenure allows teacher to advocate on behalf of students and disagree openly with school and district administrators.
9. Contrary to public perception tenure does not guarantee a teacher a job for life.
10. Tenure protects teachers from being prematurely fired after a student makes a false accusation or a parent threatens expensive legal action against the district.
11. Tenure encourages the careful selection of qualified and effective teachers.
12. The formal dismissal process guaranteed by tenure protects teachers from punitive evaluation systems and premature dismissal.
13. Tenure allows teachers to work more effectively since they do not need to be in constant fear of losing their jobs.