Friday, October 07, 2005

 

Election Woes: Proposition 74

Teachers in California enjoy a probationary period of two years during which they can be dismissed easily. After two years they acquire tenure and dismissal requires a lengthy formal procedure. Proposition 74 would increase the probationary period from two to five years. California is one of a few States with probationary periods as short as two years. Only two States now have five-year probationary periods: Missouri and Indiana. Most States have three-year probationary periods, as did California at one time.

It’s a difficult call, but I’ve decided to vote NO on Proposition 74. I believe the five-year period was chosen to punish the teachers and their union for the static they’ve been giving The Arnold, our Governator about school funding. I don’t think five years is the result of a careful and objective study of the effects of probationary period on teaching quality. I would vote YES if someone could show me such a study that concluded that five years is best.
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