I want your opinion on a school controversy...?

Question

At my school there is a huge controversy over teacher cuts. For the upcoming school year, my school was forced to cut all of the non-tenured teachers, and even a few tenured teachers were cut. Well, the biggest controversy that stemed out was over the German department. the German teacher had retired last year, and the school hired a new German teacher. He left a tenured job to come to our school to teach. Well, this year he got cut, but the biggest thing that is wrong, is that they are forcing a history teacher (who has been teaching history for 16 years) to take place of him. She hasnt taught it in years, and she only knows a basic knowledge, not enough to take over the higher classes. Many students are upset because they all have had her for class, and they all say that she is the best teacher that they have every had.(I can attest to this). What makes is bad is that everything but the sports department was touched. Sports are important at the school, but is this going too far?

Answer 1

It sounds like the school administration is following the dictates of a contract between the district and the teachers' union.  If this is true, then there should be no controversy.  The teachers have banded together to form a union, and they have bargained with the administration to insure that this specific procedure is followed.  

Teachers typically like job security, and they want to insure that longevity is the main determinant when choosing individuals to be laid-off.  Administrators usually want to be able to use other factors (such as whether the teacher is a good teacher) when choosing individuals to be laid-off.  The teachers will typically trade off other factors (such as raise percentages) during a contract negotiation to get job security clauses.

The time for the controversy is when the contract is being approved by the local jurisdiction, not when it is being used as a tool for making decisions.

Answer 2

Everythign but the sports department!!  HAHHA

I don't doubt that a bit, the IDIOTS.

Sports have nothign to do with ACADEMICS !!

To h**l if the kids learn anything or not, as long as the school gets that money and look good in the community!!  *SHEESH*

They probably are having this teacher to take the place of the other one becuase of seniority and tenure.

In other words, last one hired, first one hired.

Schools are about to be WORSE than they are now by getting rid of all the teachers.

Get ready for chaos!!

Answer 3

Sadly, sports are more important now...  The good news is you can always try to get the taxes raised in your area to provide more teachers!

Answer 4

You dont know enough.

When making these decisions - a district looks at credentials and service years. It sounds like the school followed a contract in place. If the history teacher was put in that position, then it means she has the credential to do so... and most likely agreed to it. If she has the credential, then your statement of "not enough to take over the higher classes" is incorrect.

Sports will not be touched - it is not an issue of favoritism or fairness at all. It is entirely financial. A teaching position costs the district up to 80k per year. Often sports are run through coordinatorship positions - costing at most 2k per year. Sports in the bigger schools will pay that 2k per each staff member easily through fundraising and ticket sales.

At many larger high schools, one of the things looked for in candidates is whether they are willing to sponsor a sport. it is a huge investment in time, but often those coaches have a love for the sport and certainly are not doing it for the money.

These budget cuts are affecting many a state now - my own school is letting 6 positions go - colleagues that I have worked with for years. We are also displacing another 6 - sending them to other schools. The anger should be directed away from the school - there are some tough decions that need to be made - rather the anger should be directed towards your elected officials who have set up a situation where spending was out of control. It is if they never planned for the future - and now *we* are paying the price.

Answer 5

Yeah, to cut the football budget would spell the end of American civilisation as we know it.