Have the bullies met their match? You will soon find out in New York state. Earlier this year, a few groups challenged the teacher-tenure laws of California. They argued that tenure laws violate the civil rights of students — because they protect many incompetent teachers. The argument is that kids are damaged by the incompetence […]
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Have the bullies met their match? You will soon find out in New York state.
Earlier this year, a few groups challenged the teacher-tenure laws of California. They argued that tenure laws violate the civil rights of students — because they protect many incompetent teachers. The argument is that kids are damaged by the incompetence that is protected.
A Los Angeles judge ruled for the students and against California’s tenure laws, and against the teachers’ unions.
The New York City Parents Union has filed a similar lawsuit — to overturn New York tenure laws similar to California’s. [Editor’s note:Less than a month after that suit, the Partnership for Educational Justice, a group of families led by former TV news anchor Campbell Brown, also filed a legal challenge against New York state’s teacher-tenure laws.]
In California, billionaire David Welch contributed $3 million to the legal effort there. His advocacy group hired pit-bull attorneys to argue against teacher-union lawyers.
Welch has now said his group would fund and coordinate the New York City Parents Union’s suit. And thus, the battle is joined.
The unions’ first response was to attack wealth. One union president said New York City is used to meddling billionaires trying to destroy public education. He was referring to former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Bloomy pushed charter schools big time. Charters that employ non-union teachers.
The union leader claimed that “…New York parents realize due process helps teachers defend their students’ interests.”
He has to know he speaks rubbish. His union bought the support of the city’s new mayor with mega-buck contributions. When Mayor Bill de Blasio moved against charter schools, the roof fell in. Parents roared. He has since backed off.
Let us imagine that the New York legal challenge succeeds. If it does, we could witness the end of the old tenure system. More importantly, we could see the end of incompetent teachers hanging on like leeches. We could see the handcuffs come off administrators and school boards.
The unions deserve this. They have been hard-headed on the issue. They have rejected compromise. They have knowingly protected some horrible teachers for years. They have forced school systems to create “rubber rooms.” Principals send the worst of the worst to these rooms. To do nothing. While taxpayers have to keep paying their salaries.
If the lawsuits succeed, the unions will change their tactics. That is my guess. They will offer compromises. They will try to negotiate changes. Changes that still protect good teachers. But make it easier to boot the worst. Call it “tenure light.”
Meanwhile, the tactic of citing billionaire-meddling will fail. It will fail because parents can see through it. They know the tenure system stinks. They know many teachers don’t support what the unions advocate. Many teachers don’t like being forced to pay high dues. Many don’t like their dues ending up in coffers of corrupt politicians.
Many taxpayers will feel the meddling by billionaires levels the playing field. If groups of parents challenge tenure laws they cannot afford much of a challenge. Teacher unions spend fortunes fighting them. That is why I called them bullies at the start of this column. They use the millions from dues to try to steamroll any groups that oppose tenure laws.
It could not be more clear that the unions have ignored the needs of children. Especially kids in lousy inner-city schools. It is clear the unions have ignored the wishes of many teachers.
The unions’ first concerns are salaries. And tenure. And as much control over education policies as they can get. To achieve these goals they grease the palms of politicians. They threaten to try to oust any politician who steps out of line.
Against this power, our kids deserve to have someone in their corner. Taxpayers who feel current tenure laws are rotten deserve the same.
At the moment, it looks as if David Welch and his lawyers have moved into that corner. Round one is coming up.
From Tom...as in Morgan.
Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta, in addition to his radio shows and TV show. For more information about him, visit his website at www.tomasinmorgan.com
