David N. Camaione: GOP wrong about teacher status
The April 22 editorial “Teachers keep career status” hit the mark.
There is an abundance of case law that supports the state’s Supreme Court decision to deem its decision as the taking of property. Career status and tenure are treated similarly under many state laws at the public school level but differ with tenure and academic freedom at the college level.
There is a set of higher measurements for professors because the demands of producing scholarship and research activities are expected outcomes. Parenthetically, the state legislature in the recent past attacked tenure of professors as well. This poorly constructed law to strike down teacher career status is just another example of conservative Republicans who continually articulate the strategy of fear and of being against something.
The law just does not make sense; procedures are in place to dismiss incompetent teachers. Why do they continue to target people just to hurt them?
They need to be for something! Pass meaningful laws to improve education, create jobs, expand voting practices, enhance a woman’s access to health care, reform the tax code and repair our roads, bridges, schools, railways and airports.
No wonder Republicans have lost five of the last six presidential elections. They have forgotten how to govern.
David N. Camaione
Professor emeritus, University of Connecticut
Morrisville
This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 4:25 PM with the headline "David N. Camaione: GOP wrong about teacher status."