I don't know how they did it in Texas, but if you read my comment below, you'll see that in NYC, there was a lot of evaluation before tenure was granted. Additionally, which I didn't mention below, teachers could get higher salaries by:  1. Credits earned beyond the B.A..  2. Earning an M.A., which had to be done within 5 years of beginning work ( if one didn't already have one)  3. "In-service" courses, at least two, in order to continue onto your salary "steps".  4. "Steps", based on time spent teaching, which actually only kept up with inflation.  5. 30 credits beyond an M.A. got you another increase.  6. Courses leading to a "Professional diploma".  7. Administration courses, which led to higher pay.  Almost all of these courses were paid "out of pocket" by the teachers, and the only break we got, was the chance to deduct the expense from our taxable income.  By the way, while we were going for these extra classes, and taking the money out of our pockets to do so, we were also taking the money out of our children's mouths, as most of us had families while we were doing this.  The children, Anita, think we live in the school building. They think we were born adults. They think we have no responsibilities beyond them.  When people tell us, Anita, "This isn't just an ordinary job--- when someone becomes a teacher, money shouldn't be an issue, and you have a responsibility to the children!" I say, what about my children? Aren't I responsible to them, too?  That is why money is important, and why teachers shouldn't have to be surrogate parents. Where were you? Maybe you had a tough time? We've all seen that, and are aware of it. Certainly after our first six months on the job. Where were you?  In 24 years worth of teachers, your children experienced only ONE caring, competent person? Or maybe you needed something else from your children's teachers that they simply couldn't provide them, or you, with?
Masked youths lobbed rocks at police in Mexico City on Sunday as a controversial bill to reform the education sector was approved by Mexican lawmakers.  Thousands of teachers have marched in the capital in recent days to rail against the reforms introduced by President Enriq …