I would be willing to support Question 2, which would add a 3 percent tax surcharge on incomes over $200,000 to fund public education, but only if the initiative included amending school labor contracts to allow principals to fire subpar teachers.
As it stands, schools can terminate teachers only for cause, which means smacking a kid, stealing or similar behavior. Incredibly, just being a mediocre teacher is not grounds for dismissal.
No school can be great without a great faculty, and no faculty can be great if the deadwood are allowed to hang on until retirement.
Nicholas H. Walsh
Portland
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