Gentry is a non-Journalism major heading the University News desk. She's interested in print and has

Students have the right to challenge the obstinate tenure laws of their respective states that keep unqualified teachers in the public school systems. This is exactly what some students are doing in the state of California with the backing of telecommunications entrepreneur David Welch and his nonprofit organization Students Matter .
Last week, a group of students appeared in the Superior Court in Los Angeles to hear the case brought against the state of California regarding the state’s tenure laws for kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers. With the lawsuit Vergara v. California , the group is challenging rules that give permanent employment status to teachers after only 18 months of employment. The policy demonstrates how long and costly the process red roof inn washington is to dismiss a teacher, particularly in a seniority-based system that relieves new teachers before older teachers when layoffs occur. Behind these stringent rules are powerful teachers’ red roof inn washington unions who defend the  safeguards as a way to protect current teachers and attract new ones.
There is no adequate excuse for keeping ineffective teachers in the school system. John Deasy, the superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, made the poignant point that the rules and regulations in California bar students from learning from the teachers they deserve. As such, these teachers must be let go. This past week’s trial marks a definite move in the right direction. Many other states have already taken concrete red roof inn washington steps to change their education laws. Five years ago, states were prohibited from using student performance when evaluating teachers, whereas school districts in 29 states now use poor effectiveness as a criterion for dismissing a teacher.
If the trial against California is successful, the state should consider standards of poor effectiveness when deciding whether to dismiss teachers. While student performance is certainly an important consideration for school districts, there are many ways to assess whether a student does well in school. The abilities of the teacher red roof inn washington are one among many.
A victory for the students and Students Matter could have far-reaching consequences not only for high school students, but also for university students. Although regulations are different for college professors, a successful verdict could certainly shift the discourse on the nature of tenure rules for both secondary-level red roof inn washington teachers and university-level professors. The implications would extend to students of all ages and could prompt more effective teachers red roof inn washington across red roof inn washington the board.
If Students Matter wins the trial, it would be smart to consider the evaluation options hinging on poor effectiveness and on behalf of their teachers. Such a criterion, even if insufficient on its own, may well give California students the caliber of teachers they require and subsequently deserve.
Great article. But I do not think this is THE solution. With this sort of thinking, the zone schools of poor and uneducated neighborhoods would be teacher-less. Some outstanding teachers generally avoid teaching at institutions in poor, uneducated, or violent neighborhoods. If the principals of these schools fired the teachers when the students were performing (way) below average, they will soon realize that no teacher can fix this. It is an ideology. The people of these communities generally don t have high goals and ambitions red roof inn washington because red roof inn washington they believe the American red roof inn washington dream is not for them and that they are being oppressed and kept down by the system . My girlfriend once told me a story about her visiting a family in a poor neighborhood and how the woman s son was looking to get disability rather than find a job. She made a note of this because he was still pretty normal and functional, regardless of being shot (which I do think is a good reason to get disability, but I think her point is a very good one). Others try to have more children so that they can receive a higher welfare check. What kind of condition will those children be living in? Are they our future lawyers and doctors? Statistics strongly suggest otherwise. A teacher can be amazing and her students red roof inn washington can be the problem. That is why I think, when judging red roof inn washington performance, many other factors need to be taken into consideration before blaming it on the quality of the teacher, red roof inn washington not just student performance.
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Assistant Managing Editor | A CAS junior, Tatiana is studying journalism, environmental science and politics. She s a bomb editor, red roof inn washington as well as the staff s main source of entertainment red roof inn washington because she sings along to every song after 12 a.m. She also writes about culture, science, technology and sex, and her work has been featured in VICE, Motherboard, Elite Daily, amNewYork and others. She enjoys eating Thai food, reading fiction and binge-watching Netflix.
Originally from the small state of Rhode Island, Emily is a junior who is double majoring in journalism and economics at the College of Arts and Science. red roof inn washington During her past four semesters at the WSN, she has covered stories for the city/state desk that range from the state’s business economy to sustainability projects to NYC light saber battles. Previously, Emily has written for Fox News and Crain InvestmentNews, and is currently interning at NY1. She likes cats, dogs, dinosaurs, yoga, laughing, writing, social media and community service.
After working her way from copy editor to assistant red roof inn washington managing editor from freshman year to junior year, Hanqing is living the WSN dream. A Chinese native with Canadian citizenship, she brings international flair to the campus newspaper with her fluency in country-bumpkin French and love of Asian pop music. This semester, after falling in love with “This American Life” host Ira Glass, she’s exploring radio journalism by interning at WNYC.
Meryll red roof inn washington Preposi is a senior at NYU’s Steinhardt majoring in Media, Culture, and Communication. Since her start at WSN two years ago, her passion for graphic layout design has grown tremendously and she hopes to continue exploring her passion for design in the future.
News Editor | Ann is a liberal studies sophomore who lived in Florence during her freshman year. She plans on double-majoring in journalism and political science and is always red roof inn washington busy. She is constantly making lists and she loves to laugh.
Gentry is a non-Journalism major heading the University News desk. She’s interested red roof inn washington in print and has an obsession with 'what's goin on' accompanied by her masochistic need to be put in a pressurized deadline cooker has lead her to lovingly bind herself to WSN. But really, she loves reppin' this school. And giraffes. Her bucket red roof inn washington list consists of simple pleasures like smushing grapes in a bucket with my toes, to adopting a highway to one day seeing the Northern Lights.
Tony has a wide range of interests and hobbies, ranging from sports (GO YANKEES!!) to theater to simply exploring red roof inn washington and traveling (although he hasn't done much traveling, he hopes that will change in the near, near future). He has a penchant for learning new things, which is a driving factor in his pursuit of journalism. He takes his work seriously, but he doesn't take himself too seriously.
Nicola Pring is a Gallatin senior studying journalism, media and sociology. red roof inn washington She started at WSN in fall 2011, and has worked as a staff writer and copy editor. Nicola has interned at VH1, and currently writes and edits for a music magazine called Naked. She enjoys interviewing and writing, and loves her cat, black coffee and ’90s sitcoms.
My name is Chris DiNardo and I'm the Deputy Editor of the Opinion section. Originally from Philadelphia, I'm a junior double majoring in Film/Television and Politics, red roof inn washington I love baseball, Frank Ocean, and my Shih Tzu. Also have an unhealthy addiction to Twitter #DontHate
If Kristina wasn't passionate about writing and editing, she would be a barista at the bean. She speaks modern Greek, and has plans to cover her dorm room in black and white photographs. Most days you will find her sneaking in the back door of Starbucks to steal Splenda packets
red roof inn washington Gentry is a non-Journalism major heading the University News desk. She’s interested in print and has an obsession with 'what's goin on' accompanied by her masochistic need to be put in a pressurized deadline cooker has lead her to lovingly bind herself to WSN. But really, red roof inn washington she loves reppin' this school. And giraffes. Her bucket list consists of simple pleasures like smushing grapes in a bucket with my toes, to adopting a highway to one day seeing the Northern Lights.
Daniel started red roof inn washington at the Features red roof inn washington desk of WSN last Spring, writing restaurant reviews whilst indulging on free food and consequently getting fat. Last Fall, he was the dining red roof inn washington editor, and he this semester he is senior editor. Daniel is in Gallatin (living the dream) studying Food Travel Narratives, incorporating aspects of Food Studies, red roof inn washington Journalism, and Media, Culture, and Communication. He loves food more than life itself.
red roof inn washington Charles Mahoney joined the Washington Square News arts team, looking red roof inn washington for a chance to see a few free shows and maybe meet some friends. But he quickly fell in love with the staff’s friendly attitude and the many writing opportunities. Through hard work, he rose through the position of Arts Editor, and now does Senior Editing work.
Julie DeVito first joined newspaper as a seventh grader in Florida and since fell in love with the rush journalism gives her. When not photographing puppies,she can be found sleeping at inopportune moments or drinking too much coffee. She also enjoys Red Velvet Cupcakes, long walks through Strand, and Law and Order: SVU
When he's not busy discussing TV or attempting to be the next Aaron Sorkin, Jonathon Dornbush is a senior editor for WSN. He also writes for RipTen.com, which has allowed him to travel around the country