Closing the housing gap and getting our economy back on track is going to take skilled workers filling high paying jobs.

The training for those jobs begins in our primary and secondary schools.

Which is why we think it was smart for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to side with the ACLU and others who want to end seniority-based layoffs as school systems downsize.

If we can weed out even a few poor performing teachers and retain or promote those who excel in the classroom, we give our economy a fighting chance at succeeding in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

It’s hard to make a decision to lay off workers — especially for public entities where life tenure is the name of the game. But if layoffs are going to be necessary it makes sense to get faculty members who are marginally competent out of the way.

And retain those teachers who can really make a difference in the future of our workforce.