A group of parents in Minnesota has filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s job protections for teachers. The suit would also change the order in which teachers are laid off because of budget cuts.
The parents claim that Minnesota’s layoff procedures harm poor minority children. How, you might ask. Because they say that the most ineffective teachers are more likely to be assigned to poor and minority schools.
I should point out that the parents are backed by a group of wealthy donors. I should also note that this lawsuit has nothing to do with poor and minority students and everything to do with weakening or destroying the American Federation of Teachers.
I’m currently listening to a history course from the Teaching Company on the Gilded Age, around the turn of the last century. At that time not only were the rich and powerful opposed to unions, but they convinced both state and local governments, including the court system, to crush union activity. The parallels between then and now are frightening.
Information for this post came from an article by Motoko Rich, “Job Tenure For Teachers Again Faces a Challenge,” New York Times, April 14, 2016, p. A11.
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