By Holly Kragthorpe
9/29/14
“I am a 14-year veteran public school teacher, and every year I’ve spent in the classroom has only confirmed that I have one of the most important and rewarding jobs in the world. Each day, I have the honor to teach curious and bright seventh-graders, and to encourage them to believe that, with hard work, they can succeed at whatever they set their minds to.
I’m a 14-year veteran public school teacher and I love my job. And yet, I struggle with encouraging my students to pursue careers in teaching.
Not because teaching is hard (it is) or because teachers don’t get paid enough (we don’t), but because, unless we reform our antiquated tenure system–which values seniority above all else–teaching cannot give my students the careers and opportunities I know they deserve.”