I have found myself in a bit of a situation. I am starting my second year in my district as an untenured teacher. I will be up for tenure next year and even if I get tenure it will not be in effect until the following school year. My union is gearing up to make a showing at the next few board meetings due to budget issues. I don’t know if I should go.
Ever since I was in my under grad I remember people telling me to lay low until I get tenure. Or don’t piss anyone off until you get tenure. I feel like these opinions cause people to fear for their job. Not to sound cocky or anything but I really don’t fear for my job because I am confident that I am doing the best job possible.
Should untenured teachers lay low, play nice and not get involved in union happenings until tenure roles around?
I found some fun rantings on this blog
http://untenured.blogspot.com/
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This is a very interesting concept. I teach/taught in a very, very small school. We have less than 20 teachers for K-12. Never once have I heard the term tenure used during my 17 years there. I am the only music teacher as is there only one science teacher and one english teacher and so on. Does that make a difference? To answer your question about laying low, it seems to me that wouldn't hurt. In this day and age of cut-backs and lay-offs I would think you would be a target if you rocked the boat in any way. I was non-renewed after 17 years of teaching at one school, and several other teachers with way less teaching experience at this school went unscathed.
ReplyDeleteAs far as not be involved in union things for fear of back-lash, I don't think that sounds right. Does your state have mandatory union membership? (Is that closed or open? I can't remember) Our state is elective. I would think that you would want to be involved with the union activities for one, to keep up with what is going on. Secondly, if you ever have trouble, of any kind, you will have the support of the union so you shouldn't fear being part of them.
You can still be part of the union and not rock the boat. I don't know why just participating in union activities would jeopradize your tenure.
Good luck
Elizabeth Haraseth
Greg,
ReplyDeleteLike Elizabeth I have never heard the topic of tenure ever come up at my school (although I have only been here a few years) but I agree with her sentiment that it would not hurt to lay low until you have qualified for tenure. It sounds like you are a relatively new teacher (now I may be way off base with that) so I would be inclined to think that you would be in less danger for speaking out than a 20 year veteran teacher. You make less than they so it makes sense to keep you around. I would also not get involved with any union activity simply because word seems to get around and the school can make your life a living hell. My advice is to lay low, go about your business to the best of your ability and simply do your job.
cheers,
ct
Greg,
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel. I am currently in m third year of teaching. In Georgia we have to teach at the same school for three years and one day to be considered tenure. I am a mover and shaker and if something stricks me as wrong I say something. My first two years I worried so much about what people thought of me as a teacher. I have learned that I cannot teach by what other teachers expect only from what my principal expects of me. I must say my blood pressure has gone done greatly with my stress level. Do what feels right to you because in the end you will end up regreting what you did not say to help your program.
Good Luck!
Blaire
It all depends on your view of things. As a new teacher, I want to prove myself and show that I can do things others can't. However, veteran teachers can see that as a threat and become belligerent in trying to get you out of their world. It is sad that every teacher was a new teacher at one time, but now they can't show the same courtesy they expected way back when. Tenure is a difficult thing. I have to stay in my school now for at least 3 more years before I have tenure in the county even though I already want to move on to a high school position because of the reputation of high school tech ed. It is a difficult task and I don't think anyone wants to be seen as to big for their britches. The best thing for you is that you are in a union and the union will be supportive.
ReplyDelete