Courier-Journal cites concerns about inexperience of new teachers at low-achieving Louisville school

Problem hints at much more serious issues

The Courier-Journal reports that the almost all of 19 new teachers who will be at the Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Jefferson County this year are highly inexperienced. Ten of the new teachers have no working experience in the profession. Only three of the 19 have enough experience to qualify for tenure in Kentucky.

Thus, child-hostile, union contract staff assignment rules in Jefferson County Schools – loved by the union – the dismay of those who put children first – once again stand in the way of the Jefferson County superintendent placing these government employees where they are most badly needed.

Without doubt, members of our professional police, fire and military organizations would gag at this situation.

In Jefferson County, the superintendent really has no power to place people where they are needed. Just imagine what would happen if a general’s or a police or fire captain’s authority was hobbled in the same way.

Can you imagine the chaos if members of the military demanded to choose which battles they are going to fight? How about a fireman or policeman simply being able to walk away from a tense situation not to their choosing?

Why in the world should Jefferson County Schools treat children with less concern and consideration than we treat a burning building?

Where did this idea start that teachers should somehow be different? Why should experienced teachers be able to duck the needs of children who need them most?

Why does the teachers’ union block things like financial incentives that could encourage our professional teachers to take on such challenges? Teachers want to be treated as professionals, but what kind of ‘profession’ is this, and why do Jefferson County teachers allow their professional representation organization, their union, to continue to act this way?

There are symptoms here of a very serious and fundamental attitude problem within our teaching corps. How did people with such mindsets get through our college training programs? How did they reach tenure with such attitudes? If the problem starts after they hit the classroom, why does it happen and why isn’t more being done to prevent it?

We need answers, and we need teachers with motivation to serve that at least approaches the motivation of our other dedicated government employees who defend the country, our lives and our property both domestically and overseas.