Get Rid of People Who Aren't Any Good?!!?

Yes, this article is talking about us - those who want to be teachers. However, at the risk of offending anyone I guess I understand about concern about teachers having their jobs for "life". Nowhere in corporate America - at least to my knowledge - can someone have a job for life. So, why should we be surprised when corporate America doesn't think we should have that privilege. Maybe our kids would be learning more - you know the whole "rigor" concept - if teachers weren't so secure in their jobs. If we constantly were required to reassess our teaching methods in order to keep our jobs maybe our students would be doing better in school - or maybe not. It's just a thought.

Maybe I have a different opinion on all of this since the possibility I will get in enough years of teaching to qualify for tenure are almost impossible. However, I don't think we should become complacent in our jobs just because we can. It's time for all of us to step up to the plate and take some type of responsibility for the fact that students in this country do not do as well as those from other countries. Whose fault is that? I'm not sure - a little bit of parents, a little bit of the student, and maybe even a little bit of their teacher's fault (yes I said maybe their teacher holds some ownership in all of this).

I suppose my opinion is not a popular one - anymore than the one expressed at this convention. However, it's my opinion.