Accusations Rarely Fell LA's Tenured Teachers

Review hearings costly, unreliable: principals

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted May 3, 2009 3:59 PM CDT

(Newser) – One Los Angeles high school teacher allegedly ridiculed a student for failing to commit suicide. Another kept a trove of pornography, marijuana, and cocaine at school. A third drank alcohol in front of students. None was fired, the Los Angeles Times reports in an investigation of a school district afraid to pursue tenured staffers accused of misdeeds or poor teaching skills.

Demonstrating a teacher’s incompetence can be tricky, say principals, who are more likely to transfer troublesome staffers rather than slog through years of legal disputes. Those who do brave review hearings at the Los Angeles Unified School District often face reluctant witnesses and faded memories. One principal was even sued by a teacher accused of sexual harassment. “Kids don’t have a union,” groused one frustrated school attorney.

[Images (3)]

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It's remarkably difficult to fire a tenured public school teacher in California, a Los Angeles Times investigation has found. (Shutter Stock)

Students demonstrate after attending a Los Angeles Unified School District board meeting on April 6, 2006 in Los Angeles, Calif. (Getty Images)

It's remarkably difficult to fire a tenured public school teacher in California, a Los Angeles Times investigation has found. (Shutterstock)

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The hardest conversation to have is when a student says, 'Can you please come teach our class?' You're looking at these kids knowing they are going to high school and they're not ready. It is absolutely devastating. - Kendra Wallace, principal

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 3 comments

Nwambe

May 4, 2009 12:59 PM CDT

As a teacher, let me tell you that a student who is in trouble causes a LOT more damage than a teacher. Gang members, bullying of new teachers by aggressive students... it's all there, and quite frankly I'm surprised that more isn't being done to make schools better places to learn rather than safer places to be.

serfinWI

May 4, 2009 8:48 AM CDT

More isn't being done to make schools a better place to learn is because your union won't let it. They are against any out of the box ideas. Look what happened to that voucher program Duncan nixed. Teachers need to be accountable for results and they need to be fired for such conduct. Why is it that when teachers misbehave, they next bring up the misbehavior of the students? Did gang members, bullying of new teachers cause the above mentioned teachers to drink EtOH in front of students, or keep a trove of pornography and drugs at school. What if any other professional did this while at work? Or maybe teachers aren't professional since they are in a union and get the summers off. Yes, some teachers are in horrible circumstances, but that is no argument for acting unprofessional.

Rob

May 3, 2009 9:23 AM CDT

Yeah, this is gonna be a ride.

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Accusations Rarely Fell LA's Tenured Teachers