Teacher Tenure -- Revisited

A few days ago, I wrote a blog entry addressing my views on several issues, including teacher tenure. I even briefly mentioned the recent poll findings of Americans views on topics like teacher tenure in a TIME article. Since then, several educators, including myself, have been blown away by the public misconceptions TIME perpetuated in its poll questions, specifically the one about teacher tenure:

7. Do you support or oppose tenure for teachers, the practice of guaranteeing teachers lifetime job security after they have worked for a certain amount of time?Support tenure: 28%
Oppose tenure: 66%
No answer/don't know: 6%

NEA Today addressed the issued based on the reaction on its Facebook page regarding that question. It is amazing the disconnect exhibited here on this issue. And it is not just with teacher tenure. There are several education-related issues that educators and the public don't see eye-to-eye on. Hence, public awareness and educators being vocal, as well as educators being actively involved in the reform discussion, are paramount.

In conclusion, as stated on my personal Facebook page, these are my last words concerning teacher tenure:

To the public at large: DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE! Teacher tenure doesn't provide job security; it only provides job protection via due process rights. If you don't know the difference between job security and job protection, then perhaps you need to go back to school. TIME magazine should be ashamed of themselves...