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Fireproofing the Ivory Tower
1.
Reagan, who exploited the townie /gownie split as an emotional wedge issue, cynically ended mandatory retirement which is a necessary component of tenure, especially when stem cells solve mortality.
On the other hand, there are other schools who create big incentive plans, which are often taken by the faculty you don't want to lose! One friend of mine took early retirement with 75% of salary, adds another 100% from research grants.
Starting at age 60, there should be 3 year reviews, with decremented "packages" available.
Have you heard the Tenure Song?
http://www.cs.brandeis.edu/~pollack/tenure.mp3
2. First of all, tenure is not some kind of magic shield that prevents a faculty member from being fired. It might look that to an adjunct or to a student, but each institution has a faculty manual that clearly lays out the procedures for removing tenured faculty from employment. Second of all, Ward Churchill was fired for academic misconduct involving plagiarism -- an excellent example of how tenured faculty members can, indeed, be fired when they engage in inappropriate behavior. This sort of undermines whatever point you are trying to make, doesn't it?
3. Tenure is essential in preserving Socratic thinking. It's a small mind that can't consider the opponent's point-of-view. Private religious schools should be allowed to worship their imaginary friends any way they see fit. Public schools should maintain tenure for the more intelligent and rational minds that choose to attend them.
4. You raise a good point, but perhaps we need to examine it a bit more. How likely is a religious person like you cite going to have such a drastic change of heart? What is more likely, is a situation in which the child of a wealthy donor who is not satisfied with their child's grade will pressure the university to "fix it". Now without the protection of tenure will a professor risk their career by not changing the grade? What about when a department needs to trim a bit of spending, will they decide that the expensive experienced professor could be replaced by a younger (cheaper) one?
5. All this talk about the market is misplaced (despite being a growing reality). In a university, students aren't customers/consumers; student preferences are not to be satisfied but to be formed in this kind of setting (not only through interaction with scholars but the university community at large). Any serious discussion on this matter must examine the appropriateness of "market" language to the idea of the university in the first place.
6. Colleges ought to seek professors who are not only well- credentialed in their fields but also role models for their students. Ward Churchill clearly was not such a role model nor was John Yoo, the author of the infamous torture memo. Both men flaunted disrespect for some fundamental principles in the most offensive ways. We need to set higher standards for our employees. Stupidity, self- aggrandizement and incompetence should not be re- cast as academic freedom issues. We should recognize abysmal failure when we see it and stop intellectualizing it away. Fire incompetent employees and stop hiring potentially incompetent ones.
7. never gone to a private school. i'm at unm now, been to cal and sj state. i know berthold, glad he's gone. never poked him; i was tempted. the professor's union head at the time agreed with me. tenure should not be a cape to escape, especially in public institiutions.
8. Most professors seem to pursue a lifetime of productive research and teaching. They are the kind of people who no one would want to remove from their positions. However, consensus is a tenuous construct. What would happen if a physicist refused to consider quantum physics? What if an astronomer contends that the Apollo project was produced on a soundstage in Glendale? Knowledge has been dynamic for the last 100 years. Why do we want to certify that every professor does and always will conform to the consensus of the university by granting tenure?
9. Yea, that's just what teacher’s need, more ignorant parents and teachers giving them back talk. Its bad enough evolution- and science are not the main focus being adults need this to be critical individual thinkers instead of moronic sheep. The kids can have some discussions when they are developmentally able in high school. That needs to be limited. College is the big debater-if they get there. And yes, i think college needs to be paid for. Yes, I want socialized medicine.
10. As a conservative who went to Berkley, I would have been a lot happier with Profs who didn't have running commentaries on their politics. But at the same time it didn't make me want to start recycling or being nice to poor people. Instead I just felt bad for all of my idiotic contemporaries who could do nothing but parrot socialist propaganda. They were so easily convinced that I find it hard to believe any of them still believe the same thing. If a professor can change your mind as easily as everyone is afraid of, I would assume there are a lot of other things that will change it back.
Submitted by: bigname scientist
2. First of all, tenure is not some kind of magic shield that prevents a faculty member from being fired. It might look that to an adjunct or to a student, but each institution has a faculty manual that clearly lays out the procedures for removing tenured faculty from employment. Second of all, Ward Churchill was fired for academic misconduct involving plagiarism -- an excellent example of how tenured faculty members can, indeed, be fired when they engage in inappropriate behavior. This sort of undermines whatever point you are trying to make, doesn't it?
Submitted by: The Dude Abides
3. Tenure is essential in preserving Socratic thinking. It's a small mind that can't consider the opponent's point-of-view. Private religious schools should be allowed to worship their imaginary friends any way they see fit. Public schools should maintain tenure for the more intelligent and rational minds that choose to attend them.
Submitted by: Steve Wimer
4. You raise a good point, but perhaps we need to examine it a bit more. How likely is a religious person like you cite going to have such a drastic change of heart? What is more likely, is a situation in which the child of a wealthy donor who is not satisfied with their child's grade will pressure the university to "fix it". Now without the protection of tenure will a professor risk their career by not changing the grade? What about when a department needs to trim a bit of spending, will they decide that the expensive experienced professor could be replaced by a younger (cheaper) one?
Submitted by: That old slope...
5. All this talk about the market is misplaced (despite being a growing reality). In a university, students aren't customers/consumers; student preferences are not to be satisfied but to be formed in this kind of setting (not only through interaction with scholars but the university community at large). Any serious discussion on this matter must examine the appropriateness of "market" language to the idea of the university in the first place.
Submitted by: comet
6. Colleges ought to seek professors who are not only well- credentialed in their fields but also role models for their students. Ward Churchill clearly was not such a role model nor was John Yoo, the author of the infamous torture memo. Both men flaunted disrespect for some fundamental principles in the most offensive ways. We need to set higher standards for our employees. Stupidity, self- aggrandizement and incompetence should not be re- cast as academic freedom issues. We should recognize abysmal failure when we see it and stop intellectualizing it away. Fire incompetent employees and stop hiring potentially incompetent ones.
Submitted by: Joan
7. never gone to a private school. i'm at unm now, been to cal and sj state. i know berthold, glad he's gone. never poked him; i was tempted. the professor's union head at the time agreed with me. tenure should not be a cape to escape, especially in public institiutions.
Submitted by: jon
8. Most professors seem to pursue a lifetime of productive research and teaching. They are the kind of people who no one would want to remove from their positions. However, consensus is a tenuous construct. What would happen if a physicist refused to consider quantum physics? What if an astronomer contends that the Apollo project was produced on a soundstage in Glendale? Knowledge has been dynamic for the last 100 years. Why do we want to certify that every professor does and always will conform to the consensus of the university by granting tenure?
Submitted by: randy
9. Yea, that's just what teacher’s need, more ignorant parents and teachers giving them back talk. Its bad enough evolution- and science are not the main focus being adults need this to be critical individual thinkers instead of moronic sheep. The kids can have some discussions when they are developmentally able in high school. That needs to be limited. College is the big debater-if they get there. And yes, i think college needs to be paid for. Yes, I want socialized medicine.
Submitted by: economics
10. As a conservative who went to Berkley, I would have been a lot happier with Profs who didn't have running commentaries on their politics. But at the same time it didn't make me want to start recycling or being nice to poor people. Instead I just felt bad for all of my idiotic contemporaries who could do nothing but parrot socialist propaganda. They were so easily convinced that I find it hard to believe any of them still believe the same thing. If a professor can change your mind as easily as everyone is afraid of, I would assume there are a lot of other things that will change it back.
Submitted by: Rep. Mike
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