A. Restrictive evaluation procedures included in contracts make it extremely difficult to fire incompetent teachers. NEA/AFT contracts often restrict evaluations by principals to advance notice, a minimum of 30 consecutive minutes, and only once every two to three years for tenured staff.

Better Idea: Insist that teacher union contracts do not restrict administrators from their management responsibilities.

B. Union-negotiated contracts often require adverse material in teacher files to be removed after a specific period of time, usually two years.

Better Idea: Eliminate the practice and eliminate the right to bargain on this practice. Keep all evaluative material in the teacher's file, to be available to other administrators.

C. As a condition of employment, all teachers must join the union or pay agency shop fees; non-compliance requires dismissal.

Better Idea: Encourage state legislators to repeal state collective bargaining statutes and thus agency fee requirements. Develop alternative systems of representation.

D. Only certified education employees may be hired by the school board.

Better Idea: Promote alternative routes to teaching. Focus on academic preparation, not another superimposed bureaucracy; extend the time for "student teaching" from 6 months to 2 years in the classroom while still in college.

E. NEA/AFT contracts rarely mention parents, and if a contract refers to parents, it often does so with a provision like this one: "Staff attendance is required at back to school night, two district-wide parent-teacher conferences." Not one NEA/AFT policy recognizes the idea that parents have a unique interest in school affairs.