Teacher tenure is a hot button debate, for both educators and private citizens alike. There are some who believe that teacher tenure is a necessary aspect of our school system, while others do not see the benefits of such a policy. With such passionate points of view on both sides of the equation, the time has come for a deeper investigation of the pros and cons of teacher tenure.
The Pros of Teacher Tenure
1. Teacher tenure ensures that educators who want to keep their jobs are able to. In a nation that struggles to find qualified teachers and keep them employed, teacher tenure is a great way to put a policy in place that essentially locks in talented teachers for as long as they want to work. Job security also leads to an uptick in a teacher’s proficiency.
2. A teacher who has tenure is more free to challenge the typical boundaries of the curriculum. Teachers with tenure are much more likely to take time out of their lives to research new and interesting topics to share with their students. Teachers who do not have tenure will not participate in this practice, as they are usually afraid to upset the apple cart.
3. Teachers who have tenure do not ever have to look over their shoulder and wonder if the next young teacher is coming to take their job. This keeps a school from deciding to go in a different direction in order to save money. Without tenure, teacher turnover would increase because schools would look for reasons to fire an older teacher and pay a younger one less.
The Cons of Teacher Tenure
1. The same way that teacher tenure gives job security to our best and brightest teachers, it also grants that same security to teachers who have mentally checked out years ago. It protects poor teachers and keeps schools from being able to prune out all of the dead wood on their staffs. Schools typically avoid getting rid of teachers with tenure because the process is so costly.
2. Giving a teacher tenure can reduce their motivation to do their job at a high level. If they know they will never be fired unless they commit a truly egregious offense, then many teachers will simply do the bare minimum, which leads to a substandard educational experience for our children.
3. Lazy and unmotivated teachers lead to students who take on the same habits. If a young person sees someone who is supposed to be an authority figure going through the motions when they are at an impressionable age, this can lead them to believe that this is the proper way to live. Anything that could potentially harm the learning experience of a young student should be avoided at all costs.
