Fire staffs at “failing schools”?

by David Safier

This has been going on for over a decade, but it's moving to center stage. Poorly performing — often called "failing" — schools sometimes fire all the people who work there. Then members of the old staff can reapply, if they wish, with no guarantee they'll be rehired.

There's a story in the NY Times about a school in Rhode Island taking this route, and Obama supporting the decision.

The hoped-for educational benefits are clear. A new attitude from rehired staff combined with an energy renewal coming from newly hired staff is supposed to turn the school around. Maybe so, maybe no. The results so far have been mixed.

But I want to think long term, about future unintended consequences.

Right now, nationwide budget crunches have resulted in teachers being let go, and those who remain are clinging to their jobs. I'm guessing nearly any teaching opening at any school can find applicants to fill the position.

But there will come a time when the economy rights itself and there won't be such easy pickings for districts looking to hire teachers. What then?

My guess is:

1. People who would make good teachers and are attracted to the relative job security connected with being a teacher (I know that was a draw for me) will think twice about entering a profession with low job security along with low pay. (Getting rid of tenure protections in Arizona will almost certainly make this happen here, even without wholesale firings at "failing" schools.)
2. Teachers will be even more reluctant than they are now to teach at schools with students who have low test scores. Not only is it much tougher to teach at those schools, but chances are, at one point your job will be on the line — not because you're a poor teacher, but because your school's overall test scores are too low. The best teachers will be even more drawn to schools with "good students," meaning the teachers who end up at schools most in need of gifted, inspired people will be those who can't find jobs anywhere else.

I fear Obama, Arne Duncan and other people who genuinely hope these wholesale firings will help children are hurting these children and their schools in the long run.