Ousting Ineffective Teachers

Last week, New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced his plan for removing unsatisfactory teachers from the city's classrooms. His proposal would involve principals and education consultants working with lawyers to oust ineffective, tenured teachers. Proponents applaud the plan for simplifying the firing process; critics, including UFT president Randi Weingarten, call the concept a "teacher gotcha unit."

How big a problem are ineffective teachers in schools? How can school systems decrease the numbers of such educators? What do you think of New York's planned approach?