I have great admiration for Larry Sand and his opinions. This one is a no-brainer, and goes back to the fundamental argument against union interference in public education.
For me, the debate becomes slightly complicated, as I am a teacher with seniority who is highly qualified and passionate about the students I teach.
Maybe that has to do with the fact that I taught 15 years, and then took off 15 years to raise my own four children. I'm not exactly the classic burned out old teacher, even though I began teaching in 1972. That's a long time ago and lots has changed. As Predestination would have it, I returned to teaching over 10 years ago, and I hope to teach at least another 8 years, or until I die.
Should a measure of teacher quality be designed on any level, I have no doubts that I ould make the cut. I do know others in my age group, who would not. But those are the teachers who are waiting out retirements with a ho-hum attitude.
Ultimately, the playing field is not level enough to reward one teacher over another with a job, based on performance. The students I teacher are highly mobile and low socio-economic. Their parents are somewhat illiterate and undocumented. It's miraculous that our school has made the strides that it has in the last seven years under NCLB. Our entire city is undereducated, and under the scrutiny of the State's P.I. watch. We are a low performing school district.
However, my philosophy of education is basically a spiritual world view. Many (teachers) are called, but few (teachers) are chosen. I will always teach. I will never retire. Where I teach, who I teach, and what I teach are in GOD's Divine and Providential WILL. I know if HE wants me to work, there will be a job for me according to the gifts HE has bestowed upon me.
This is the way I look at life...through the lens of a Biblical World View. Without FAITH it is impossible to please the Creator, THE ONE WHO provides all we need, continually.
I want to know GOD'S THOUGHTS. The rest are just details.
Lill
Senority system in LAUSD keeps good teachers out - LA Daily News