newjerseynewsroom.com

BY PAT SUMMERS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

ANALYSIS

One of the non-surprises in Gov. Chris Christie's state of the state speech earlier this week was his announcement that he wants to get rid of teacher tenure. Some listeners must have wanted to say, "No-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!"

After a year when the governor routinely used teachers and the NJEA as his whipping boys and girls of choice, what else could be expected? Much less predictable was yesterday's news that the NJEA will fight for tenure. This after a period when school- and educator-watchers could only wonder what it would take to light a fire under teachers and administrators.

Of course, definitions and details are in order. How might the governor get rid of tenure? With what would he replace it? How serious is he with that call to action — or is it his opening stance for negotiating? Is he really ready to settle for less than total elimination?

Same with the NJEA. How can the union support its members and still throw enough of a bone to the governor to quiet him down for awhile? How much can the union safely give away if that means leaving its members vulnerable to the very kind of politician whose whims the tenure law was written in part to defend against?

(Exhibit A: Christie's recent highhanded firing of seven county superintendents, reportedly by email no less. And while we're at it, Exhibit B: A sprawling Mercer County township frequently accused in letters to the editor of widespread nepotism and politicization.)

Beyond the two combatants — the governor v. the union — there's also the public, now used to crying the 2011 equivalent of "Off with their heads!" — that is, "Sure, let's get rid of tenure!" — inevitably followed by a complaint about how teachers get summers off.

Does the average Jack or Janet Commentator even know

• the history of the tenure law? (Why was it thought necessary, who can get it and when and why?)
• it's possible to get rid of bad teachers before they're awarded tenure? (During a probationary period of almost three school years, teachers are supposed to be supervised and evaluated before award of a fourth-year contract.)
• it's also possible to get rid of bad teachers after they're awarded tenure? (It takes time and documentation, two precious commodities.)

One historical reason for teacher tenure was to avoid arbitrary and capricious hiring and firing, typically exemplified by leaving to politicians and comparable others how a teacher is hired or fired, which may have no connection to her/his ability to teach.

The governor himself may be the very best argument against getting rid of tenure: a politician with no known background or credentials for making the educational decisions he has — or for recommending elimination of tenure.