A study of the perceptions of teachers and administrators regarding teacher evaluation and reduction-in-force in selected school corporations in Indiana

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the perceptions of superintendents, RIFfed teachers, and teacher union officials concerning the criteria used in reducing force in school corporations having reduction-in-force contract language. The population consisted of forty-six superintendents, ninety-one RIFfed teachers, and thirty-two union officials. The school corporations were randomly selected from 144 corporations listed in the document entitled 1984-85 Indiana State Teachers Association Bargaining Priorities.The three groups were asked to complete a questionnaire either by mail, on-site, or by telephone. The questionnaire was designed to determine the perceptions of each group regarding criteria used in reducing staff. Major problems were found in a number of current reduction-in-force policies due to incorporating the sole criterion of seniority. Seniority was found to be regressive,and many young competent teachers were often unfairly and arbitrarily laid off or terminated.Solutions to the problems included the adoption of broader reduction-in-force policies to include such criteria as evaluation, past performance, and extracurricular participation. Other recommendations were to lobby for a state law to set forth uniform guidelines for reducing force, and for superintendents, school boards, and union officials to realize that school corporations cannot follow a typical industrial model for reducing force. Comprehensive, progressive school corporations must rely on competent, dedicated teachers who are willing to meet the total needs of students. Regressive, restrictive policies are not conducive to quality education.