And the California teachers unions bite the dust. The judge for Los Angeles Superior Court, Rolf Treu, found California’s laws governing the hiring, firing and awarding tenure to teachers unconstitutional under California’s constitution. The ruling may lead to more lawsuits in other states. “The evidence is compelling,” Treu wrote. “Indeed, it shocks the conscience.” The decision said between 1% and 3%, or 2,750 to 8,250, of California teachers are “grossly ineffective” and the laws keep them in school, affecting their students for a long time. Of course, the leaders of the teachers unions are whining. Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association, said the decision will “make it harder to attract and retain quality teachers and ignores all research that shows experience is a key factor in effective teaching.” Blah, blah, blah – respect is earned, not given. A young, hardworking teacher will do more to help his or her students than an old burnout. More…