Grading Of Teachers Proposed

LANSING- Michigan teachers might be "graded" every four years on their performance, under one of several proposals being studied for introduction the legislature next session. Rep. Meivin DeStigter, RWest Olive, said such a report i card for teachers is one of several ideas being examined now by lawmakers who would like to see changes in the state's teacher tenure system. -In the present system, once a teacher is certified and acquires tenure, he can only be removed by a local school board after a lengthy, formal procedure challenging the person's professional or moral ■ qualifications. DeStigter s a i d the new proposal might i n v o 1 v e a teacher b e i n g "thoroughly analyzed and evaluated" every four years by a group which would have representation from other teachers, Te n t s , admimstrators and boards. "I'm not adverse to tenure as long as parents and taxpayers have some assurance that they are getting a return in quality for their investment," said DeStigeter, who was a teacher and administrator himself for 10 years. Several other plans which would have drastically changed or even eliminated tenure were introduced in the legislature last session, but all died. With the school-financing situation continuing to worsen, DeStigter said he thought tenure-révision legislation will get more serious attention in the 1973 session. _