Tenure Reform

Scott Craig, a student at Wilfrid Laurier University, has the ability to judge an unfamiliar instructor on their teaching effectiveness by whether or not they have a wedding ring on their finger. With Craig, the wedding ring shows if the teacher has the communication and personal skills to be committed to a marriage (A4). To many teachers, tenure grants academic freedom. It provides job security in times that require years of research and a six-year probationary period to obtain (Greene, O’Connor, Good, Ledford, Peel, and Zhang 427-429). Tenure was created to set a standard for teaching and research amongst teachers and have a guarantee of a job for life without the feeling that their superiors were constantly watching them. However, many students, faculty, and critics alike, feel tenure is being abused and has caused more harm than is productive. This issue leads to the controversial question of whether or not teachers receive tenure?

According to Robert Lowman of the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, “The Changing Role of Tenure at the American Research University,” article shows the flaws associated with tenure. In Lowman’s article, the author gives detail as to how tenure has worked to set a foundation of high standards for teachers to meet in order to be welcomed back after the six-year probationary period. If an educator were to fall below the standards, their superiors are expected to notify them by April first of the sixth year and termination occurs during the seventh year (Lowman 259). Causing teachers that perform poorly to be weaved out before they can continue to be ineffective in that school. Lowman believes the tenure system is flawed, due to colleges focusing too much on academic research put out by th...

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...rs, a conclusion can be made from each that reform is needed for the growing issue of tenure.

Works Cited

Bernstein, Marc F. “Delaying Teacher Tenure for Education’s Good.” School Administrator 63.5 (2006): 51. Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 2 Mar. 2012.

Kwalwasser, Harold. “Overselling the Myth of the Bad Teacher and Tenure.” School Administrator 68.1 (2011): 39. Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 2 Mar. 2012.

Lowman, Robert P. “The Changing Role of Tenure at the American Research University.” Psychologist-Manager Journal 13.4 (2010): 258-269. Academic Search Complete. Web. 3 Mar. 2012.

McMahon, Michael. “University Students Want Say in Tenure.” The Toronto Star 12 Feb. 2000: Ed. 1. LexisNexis. Web. 8 Mar. 2012

“I Did Not Slow Down Once I Got Tenure.” Chronicle of Higher Education 57.18 (2011): D15-D16. Academic Search Complete. 3 Mar. 2012.