<HTML>I'd like to follow-up on my previous post regarding the ethical question
posted by Rabbi Tzvi Grumet.
First, I located the teshuva by Rav Moshe that I alluded to. It's in
Choshen Mishpat aleph, siman 77. The question is regarding not rehiring a
rebbe who has been at a school for a number of years. Rav Moshe first
says that if the rebbe does not want to leave, the decision must be
brought to a Beit Din. He then gives the following guidelines for such a
decision:
It is asur to remove the rebbe if he is doing his job well, namely, if he:
1. explains the material to the students well
2. makes the students review
3. makes sure that there is no wasted time during class
4. is yirai shamiyim so that the students will learn from him to be
shomrei
Torah u'Mitzvot
Rav Moshe then says that it is possible for a rebbe who was a good teacher
in the past to change for the worse, or to become burned out. On the
other hand, the fact that the school rehired him in the past is an
indication that he is a good teacher. These are the issues which must be
carefully weighed out.
Rav Moshe concludes by mentioning two things, which are addressed at
greater length in the preceding teshuva, siman 76. One, the fact that the
contract is up at the end of the year is of no significance. The
assumption at the time of hiring is that the teacher will be rehired, and
therefore not rehiring him is equivalent to removing him. While this is
true even going into the second year of employment, it is even stronger as
the years go on.
Lastly, Rav Moshe says that even if there is cause for dismissal, the
rebbe should be compensated. I'd like to conclude by adding my own
opinion that the school should, if at all possible within budgetary
limitations, provide the teacher with an alternative position outside of
the classroom. It must be a position befitting their kavod. Teaching
small groups or individual students in need of remediation or enrichment
may be an appropriate option.
Sincerely,
Avram Skurowitz</HTML>
