Published: April 1, 1995

The End Of Tenure?

This sort of drawn-out scenario is not atypical when it comes to firing tenured teachers. But it soon could be a thing of the past in California if Gov. Pete Wilson gets his way. The state is one of several where school boards, legislators, or governors are hoping to dismantle all or part of their teacher-tenure laws. These opponents argue that the laws drive up district costs and require years of complicated legal maneuvering to dismiss even obviously incompetent educators. Some critics also argue that current laws make it too easy for teachers to get tenure.

Connecticut, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas all have proposals in the works. Some would merely tinker with tenure laws; others, such as California's initiative, would wipe out the concept altogether.

Many national education observers expect to see the anti-tenure sentiment spread over the next few years. The political shift to the right, they say, has left teachers' unions--the longtime defenders of such job protections--more vulnerable. And the movement to make schools more accountable could have...