Why we can't get rid of failing teachers.

TEACHER evaluation; UNITED States education system; ACADEMIC achievement; TENURE of teachers; TEACHERS' unions; ACHIEVEMENT gap; PARENT participation in education; EVALUATION

In this article the authors comment on the influence of ineffective teachers on low academic achievement in elementary schools and high schools throughout the U.S. They note that in most U.S. states, teachers' unions secure lifetime tenure for teachers after a period of two or three years. Topics discussed include the achievement gap between white students and minority students, educational pedagogy, and the role of parents in education.