Why is it that teaching is the only occupation that is safe after 10 years. This should be a job like all others that merit and good work is what enables you to keep you job. There are many people waiting for teaching jobs, that no one should assume that they have a job.. this enables slackers.

In order for our schools to succeed ,we need to stop nepotism when hiring teachers. Unfortunately many of teachers hired are not hired because they have proven to be a creative, passion-based teacher, they are being hired because they know someone in the system. Also very young inexperienced teachers are being hired over experienced teachers. (Some experienced teachers have acquired the skills needed to connect with the troubled student, and this cannot be taught in a college course). It is a skill that is mastered after many rounds of trial and era. Demonstrating nepotism when awarding teaching jobs is particularly dangerous because of the product that the employee is working with. The minds of the youth should not be placed in the hands of anything but the most qualified individual that can give them meaningful and accurate instruction. By giving out jobs based on nepotism, the students in the affected school districts are being instructed by teachers that may not be the most qualified individuals to give instruction. Sometimes teachers are actually pink slipped in order to create an opening for someone’s relative or a coach’s wife that wants a job. In one school a teacher was not given a position when it opened because that teacher’s student teacher (who she was entrusted with the responsibility of teaching how to give instruction) became available for the job at the same time that she was to be considered and the student teacher was the daughter of the director of personnel. Standards are increasing in the country and teacher quality is decreasing. Students are expected to accomplish more in less time and teacher quality is decreasing. Students are expected to score higher on mandatory exams and teacher quality is decreasing. While all other aspects of education and student performance seem to be moving forward, the hiring process of school districts has slipped backward. It’s about time our school systems start taking hiring their teachers more seriously. Instead of only relying on interviews why not give the prospective teacher a lesson to teach in front of a real classroom evaluated by non bias administrators. This is the only way to find out how creative and talented he or she is.Not everyone is a natural teacher but there are many that are but haven’t been given a chance even for an interview because they didn’t know someone in the system. Classroom observations of the prospective teacher actually teaching,,before hiring will answer the most important question when hiring teachers,”,how effectively does this teacher connect with the students and how effectively does he or she share his or her creativity in a way that’s productive for learning. All of which is detrimental in being a successful educator.

President Obama,Not everyone is a natural teacher but there are many that are but haven’t been given a chance even for an interview because they didn’t know someone in the system.There is an epidemic of nepotism in the hiring process of teachers.I believe classroom observations of the prospective teacher actually teaching by a panel of successful ,creative non bias educators ,before a position is awarded, will answer the most important question of all when hiring teachers,”,how effectively does this teacher connect with the students and how effectively does he or she share his or her creativity in a way that’s productive for learning. All of which is detrimental in being a successful educator. Will you please give this needed change some thought?

I see a typo here. The last sentence, “If you have a good question that you thing…………” s/b THINK. Proof read, proof read, proof read, especially if you are the one posting the news. My only issue about education is to make teachers pay and keeping their jobs be tied to students’ grades.