The House of Delegates has approved legislation to make it easier to remove public school teachers from their jobs.

The House voted 55-43 Monday to pass the measure. It would gradually move teachers and principals from continuing contracts, which are akin to tenure, to three-year contracts that would not be automatically renewed. Teachers would be evaluated annually, and after three years they could be removed with no reason given.

The three-year contracts would apply only to new hires.

Del. Kirk Cox of Colonial Heights, a high school government teacher, said there are bad teachers working, and students are the ones who suffer.

But Del. Jeion Ward, president of the Hampton Federation of Teachers, said it's not hard to get rid of a bad teacher under the current system.