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SACRAMENTO-

The Los Angeles court ruling that says that teacher seniority and tenure are no longer sacred cows is having a immediate impact on the teaching community.

While still in the shadows of a recession, the notion of a job for life or at least until they retire, doesn’t sit well with many people. But teachers say tenure is not what they have. They insist any teacher can be fired, but they have to have a fair hearing.

Maggie Ellis is a fifth grade teacher in Elk Grove and president of the teacher’s union there. She says teachers have to advocate for kids and parents without fear.

“When we have something to say, we should be able to speak and not be fearful of our jobs,” Ellis said.

But some argue that the convoluted hearing process prevents any teacher from being fired.

Ellis says the court case based its findings on Oakland and L.A. schools.

“Two districts that have the worst systems and who need to tighten up their business. Most of us in the districts have good systems,” said Ellis.

Teacher layoffs are based on seniority according to the state education code.

Sara Reyes, who has a child in kindergarten, says that too much stock is put on seniority and not job performance.

“We depend on them to teach them. If they’re not doing their jobs, I don’t see why they would be able to keep their jobs,” Reyes said.

Other parents agree with unions who say teaching is a complex, people-oriented profession, where experience counts.

“They put that much time in raising our kids in our community, they deserve their job,” Emigdio Perez, who is the father of two elementary aged children, told FOX40.

And Ellis says judging teachers solely on results can be unfair. Teachers don’t pick their schools or their students.

She says she’s taught fifth grade for 15 years and is good at it, but what if she’s reassigned as veteran teachers often are?

“Should I lose my job because I’m not the best kindergarten teacher my first year? No, I need support to become a great kindergarten teacher,” Ellis said.

Even after the court ruling, school districts will likely continue using seniority as the basis for layoff notices, because many believe the court ruling will undergo a lengthy appeal process.