Teacher Tenure

Vs Education

To the Editor:

I am pleased to see that the Connecticut Association of School Superintendents (CAPSS) agrees with my position that tenure for teachers must be eliminated if we are to have quality of education in our high schools. The reason is simple: Once a teacher has the protection of tenure, he may no longer be motivated to excel in his chosen profession. He feels secure from criticism. He should not.

There are several reasons to eliminate tenure, the most important being the presence of mediocre teachers who for practical reasons cannot be removed unless they commit some sort of crime.

Unfortunately, the political scene is such that it is unlikely that anything in this respect will be done. Politicians count blocks of votes, individuals do not count. In this case there are at most a few thousand votes by CAPSS vs about 240,000 full-time and part-time public employees. The arithmetic is compelling. A political appeal to the better instincts of our politicians is a waste of time. They count votes and do not wish to alienate public employee unions. So what is the answer?

I believe that only the federal courts can provide relief and, yes, we as a town must proceed in this direction if we want to return control of the school agenda to the Board of Education and not self-motivated unions, their officials, and their union contract. And yes, there will be friction, but there cannot be a friendly atmosphere between union vs Board of Education. These two bodies have opposing interests when it comes to financial matters. The board may have a friendship with an individual teacher, but not his union. Otherwise the results are disastrous both for the town, its taxpayers, and most important the children.

The Newtown Teachers Union has demonstrated that they have only their own financial interest at heart, and could care less about the burden their selfish motives have imposed on the rest of the town citizens. Friendly persuasion is out of place here, only the federal courts will be able to reestablish a power equilibrium in our school system by eliminating tenure of office for teachers. There is no other choice.

Oscar Berendsohn

34 Apple Blossom Lane, Newtown                      November 29, 2011