Michigan Votes Forum

Yes! It's about time. People complain about the schools constantly, yet this is the first time I have seen an effort to do something to improve them other than send more money. Don't let the teachers unions drag them down like they have the auto makers. Some will say that this bill will not allow the schools to attract the best teachers. The problem is not attracing the best teachers-it's getting rid of the bad ones.

This is just another thinly veiled attempt to undermine teacher security and allow politicization of public schools and the teaching profession.  In this case, the means is to weaken teacher tenure laws, which protect not only teachers but also the academic integrity and robustness of our schools.  This and other bills like it should be rejected by the legislature.

FreeSpeaker:

This is just another thinly veiled attempt to undermine teacher security and allow politicization of public schools and the teaching profession.  In this case, the means is to weaken teacher tenure laws, which protect not only teachers but also the academic integrity and robustness of our schools.  This and other bills like it should be rejected by the legislature.

You're right again, freespeaker!  I think that we should just make sure that teachers can stay on the job and continue to get raises every year with no accountabilty! They should be give plenty of time--decades if necessary--to perfect their teaching skills so that they will eventually do better with children.  Teachers' job security should be protected above all costs, and the teachers union's authority should never be questioned! 

Keeping teachers who have a lot to learn on the job is great for our kids!  Look at the history of our quality of education--that doesn't happen without these kinds of protections in place!

 The vote failed because the politicians (18 % of the Republicans and 87% of the Democrats) are afraid if we start getting rid of incompetent people they may be next  They also depend on those incompetent teachers and their unions for their support.

Aren't the incompetent teachers somehow going to be protected under the addtion of breastfeeding mothers in the civil rights bill? Time for them to get off the public teat and compete with the public instead of milking them?

People need to place the blame where it belongs.  Michigan public school administrators have the power to remove ineffectual teachers.  Unfortunately, they sometimes neglect this aspect of their jobs.

Hey Bluewater teacher... These School administrators [you] identify as not having the ability to do their job are for the most part teachers who graduated to administration, but you already know that. It is also interesting that you identify yourself as a teacher and yet you talk like you are a part of a mindset that coddles teachers who [you] identify as being "ineffectual", instead of working to get rid of these administrators who [you] deem to be neglecting their responsibilities.

 It is just plain not true that Michigan Public School Administrators have the power to remove ineffectual Teachers. I know a person very close to me who in fact was a Teacher and now is an Administrator. Incompetent Teacher's who are doing nothing for the betterment of the student's are protected by the Teachers Union! This is also one of the reasons that the Automobile Industry is in trouble because the Unions protect bad workers!

 "Teacher security" is the primarly problem.  We have both young and old teachers who have gained tenure status and are no longer interested in their own professional development or the entire improvement of a school system.  They just want to close the door, "teach" and not be held accountable.  They refuse to use research based instructional techniques or even develop common grading or behavioral expecations as their peers.  I (as a teacher) have sat back and watched teachers be placed on "growth plans" by the principal, they go through the needed steps for one year and then revert back to their old habits of being inaffective and poor.  The principal is left pulling his/her hair out because when it is all said and done, there is nothing they can do.  The cost of removing a tenured teacher is so expensive that district simply can't afford it.  The funny thing is, most teachers are outstanding, the union is actually weakening itself in the court of public opinion, by protecting the ineffective / poor teachers within its ranks.  Tenure reform is badly needed!

I think that is an interesting point, it made me think a bit. Thanks for sparking my thinking cap. Sometimes I get so much in a rut that I just feel like a record. hates off . Hardwood Pellets

 I am shocked and amazed that our legislators approve of allowing sub-standard teachers to exist in our schools, much less promote them.  Then you wonder why charter schools are so in demand!  The quality of education in our public schools is awful.  We are graduating un-educated bodies who are for the most part unable to read, write, or count, and have little to no concept of our history or our laws.  What does it take to wake up our legislators?