California Tenure Ruling Makes Waves in New York Education Scene

By Ross Barkan and Will Bredderman

A California court ruling striking down teacher tenure laws as unconstitutional prompted an outpouring of applause from education reform advocates–and a chorus of boos from supporters of public school instructors.

Teachers unions blasted Golden State Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu, who decided today that laws limiting the ability of schools to fire teachers violate California’s constitutional guarantee of an education for every student–with the labor groups claiming the ruling creates a divide between educators and their pupils.

“This case now stoops to pitting students against their teachers,” said American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. “The other side wanted a headline that reads: ‘Students win, teachers lose.’ This is a sad day for public education.”

Ms. Weingarten said she agreed bad teachers should be fired, but argued that Mr. Treu’s decision unilaterally disenfranchises all instructors.



Read more at http://observer.com/2014/06/california-tenure-ruling-makes-waves-in-new-york-education-scene-2/#ixzz34HMfMald