Oh, For Fuck's Sake

In this typically longwinded article in the New York Times Magazine, an absolute idiot of a writer rails against "tenure" in education which allegedly keeps "bad" teachers in place. He thinks, like most of the public, "tenure" means automatic, lifetime job security.

However, this idiot doesn't even know what "tenure" is. "Tenure" ISN'T lifetime employment; if it were, I'd still be working. School districts can and do fire teachers all the time, and it doesn't have to be for major offenses like child molestation or cheating on standardized tests. It can be for something as innocuous as a clerical error over an FMLA form not filled out correctly, which was the only thing yours truly was guilty of committing when Washoe County School District decided to pursue a wrongful dismissal against me.

What "tenure" refers to is teachers have a right to a hearing. That's it. And believe me, when you have a "hearing," it is a rigged game from the get-go, if you are as stupid as I was and signed the dotted line saying I could have my case arbitrated but lose all my constitutional rights to sue for damages in civil court. The lawyers "representing" yours truly never explained the fine print, for if they did they would not be paid for their halfassed defense. You are NOT allowed to call witnesses at an arbitration hearing, you are not allowed to introduce evidence, but the other side can bring in witnesses who will lie under oath, which, if these witnesses were in a regular courtroom, they would be slapped with a perjury charge. And the two witnesses, including the principal who initiated the wrongful dismissal, lied, pure and simple. Everybody had to take a goddamned oath, but the hearing officer didn't care if these people lied. His mind was made up, and the district knew this, and they could put on a bullshit case knowing the outcome had already been decided. The fact is, if you are dismissed and go through arbitration, you will almost NEVER win. But you give up ALL of your rights. I probably could have won this case had I had an outside attorney or at least won a settlement, but now I am shit out of luck. I also could have brought a civil rights lawsuit against a different principal, but the two-year statute of limitations has expired.

So spare me the fucking bullshit about "tenure." The truth is, "tenured" workers have LESS job security than those without. Many teachers misunderstand what "tenure" is and think they have job security. They don't. The key to a district getting your ass out the door is to have the union, which is nothing but an arm of the school district, con you into going through a kangaroo court process. I was conned about how I would be "ruined" financially if I got a lawyer. Well, I am ruined anyway thanks to them.