Why Is It So Difficult To Fire Bad Teachers?

Ant writes with this depressing story about how public schools sometimes work: "This six-page Los Angeles Times article shares its investigation to find 'the process [of firing poor teachers] so arduous that many school principals don't even try (One-page version), except in the very worst cases. Jettisoning a teacher solely because he or she can't teach is rare ...'"

Simple answer

[Anonymous Coward]

Because there is so many bad school principals.

Re:It's the bueracracy we hate ...

[Anonymous Coward]

The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy.

Re:It's Simple

[Achromatic1978]

I've had maybe 5 good teachers, out of say the 7 new teachers I get each semester for the last 10 or so years. ~5/700.

Apparently, none of those 5 were mathematics teachers, I'm guessing.

The whole class constantly complains about her to the principle, but nothing is ever done.

Nor were they English teachers, it'd seem ...

Arrrr

[OpenSourced]

They are usually fat and get stuck in the cannon mouth

Re:Difficult to Define a "Good" Teacher

[readin]

and we we're expected to play games ahem, "...and we weren't expected to play games..."

And yes, I did teach English better than I write it on slashdot.

Re:Public education...

[mazarin5]

My son came back from his classes in favor of a second term for Bush. It didn't really matter because he was 5.

Re:Public education...

[inviolet]

Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

...whereas those who study history will recognize it when they are repeating it.

/sorry, feeling cynical tonight