In my book The Upside of Inequality: How Good Intentions Undermine the Middle Class, I call for a constitutional amendment banning teacher tenure. While it is unlikely teacher unions are responsible for low test scores, studies show that replacing the least effective teachers could produce substantial improvements.
Teachers aren’t just factory workers producing widgets. Parents must have the right to fire their children’s caregivers.
Regardless of what’s fair, amending the constitution is a high hurdle. But The New York Times reports Republicans now control 30 state legislatures—a large increase since 2008. Only 34 states are required to amend the constitution. And 28 having already adopted resolutions supporting a balanced budget amendment. It’s not hard to imagine a concerted effort by advocates of education reform successfully pressuring four non-Republican controlled states to adopt such an amendment.
