One of the definitions of the word "tenure" is "permanent status in a job, usually after a period of probation." For some teachers, it is the Holy Grail that ensures a long career; it is a six-letter, 10-dollar synonym for "job security."

Today, it's a whole new bowl of alphabet soup. More than a dozen states have taken a second look at their teacher tenure policies in the past year, with results varying from state to state.

In Idaho, lawmakers enacted a law banning tenure for new teachers and certain other state workers. In Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law a measure linking tenure to teacher performance, not seniority.

In Missouri, a law that would abolish tenure and put teachers on a merit pay system died in the legislature in 2011. Proponents for similar legislation kicked off an initiative petition drive in Jefferson City last month.

"Mary" spent 30 years in special education in Missouri (a tenure state) and Arkansas (a non-tenure state). Her charges were the most challenging children imaginable. Students from kindergarten to eighth grade often shared the same classroom. Some required care associated with infants and toddlers, including changing diapers. Others made the classroom hell on earth with emotional and behavioral issues.

I asked her about the tenure situation and her answer surprised me.

"Tenure? It made no difference at all to me," she said.

In her 10 years in Arkansas education, Mary took continuing education courses, at her own expense, to keep her credentials up to state standards. She had no guarantee of permanent employment if her performance fell short of what was expected. Arkansas reflects the classic definition of a "merit" state.

In Missouri, personalities and office politics often made the difference, even though she taught in one of the poorest districts in the Bootheel for 20 years.

"If you got on a principal's good side, you were in," Mary said. "If a principal didn't like you, tenure didn't help you at all."

Mary butted heads with the school superintendent some years back.

He had called a special meeting for a Friday afternoon, a meeting every teacher was required to attend. However, only the district teachers would be paid. The special education teachers would not.

"As a special ed teacher, I was hired by the local school district but was paid by the regional special education district," she pointed out. "I told the superintendent, 'If I don't get paid, I am not going to be at that meeting.' The superintendent said, 'Oh, yes you are,' and I said, 'Oh, no I won't.'"

It took the Missouri Federation of Teachers — the state chapter of the national teachers union — to make sure she was paid. She added, however, "It was probably the only time the AFT ever helped me."

In 30 years in the classroom, Mary saw success and failure with her students. Happily, there were far more successes than failures. From what she told me, tenure had nothing to do with them. Perhaps, as the old Phillips 66 gasoline slogan once said, "It's performance that counts."

Charles E. Geer is a Granite City resident and former radio talk show host who is father of two, and grandfather of two. Besides writing, he also enjoys cooking, drumming and talking cars with almost anyone.