21–30 of 72 posts
I felt my classmates were very fair with teachers. They didn't know the politics at the instition.
They didn't dislike a teacher because the course work was difficult.
They didn't like teachers who phoned their class in like an annoyance. They didn't like egotistical bullies which in my schools we all tenured teachers.
(I wouldn't mind seeing huge changes to tenure.)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So this process has worked for over a century producing one of the best academic systems in the world, but is no longer viable in 2021 because it is no longer possible to function with accountability?
I don't think tenure is the main cause of this, but I don't believe that the university system is in very good shape. It appears quite broken (massively increased costs and decreasing evidence of efficacy). About 40+ years ago it was unquestionable that going to a university was the right choice for the vast majority. Now, it is far from clear.
Academic censorship has been around for a while. https://theintercept.com/2021/09/28/israel-palestine-unc-aca... https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-58765052 If you want academic freedom as a professor you can move to China so long as you don't cover China and the CCP.
I see a number of comments below hailing this as a good thing, one that will benefit students. These folks look at Universities as just another company and think this is normal. It is not. It is a terrible mistake and the GA system (and its students, and society) will be worse off for it. The notion of tenure wasn't developed to protect dead wood. It came about because historically it was often difficult to distingui…
Just letting you know from here on out you'll never be to pull off a nom-de-plume.
This just means they got rid of the concept of tenure. Albeit, I have heard it argued that tenure is not as relevant in the modern era of social media and twitter mobs, because academia is turning into a monoculture of thought through self-censorship. It is understandable that the more diverse taxpaying public would start to question the purpose of protecting the views of a privileged elite class when they themselves…
Professors most certainly are not a "privileged elite class." They're research/teaching specialists. Your talking point sounds straight out of some right-wing website/tv channel.
I see a number of comments below hailing this as a good thing, one that will benefit students. These folks look at Universities as just another company and think this is normal. It is not. It is a terrible mistake and the GA system (and its students, and society) will be worse off for it. The notion of tenure wasn't developed to protect dead wood. It came about because historically it was often difficult to distingui…
Those people are not tenured college professors.
Is tenure similar to the inability to fire arbitrary employees in parts of Europe?
Until this case, yes. From what I can gather, the goal of it is to allow for more abstract research that may draw criticism; a way to say "this person has been reliable and known reputable in this field for X time". Imagine a medical professor with tenure who wants to do research surrounding umbilical stem cells, or fetal research. Tenure, from my understanding, would give them some understanding or forgiveness for t…
This just means they got rid of the concept of tenure. Albeit, I have heard it argued that tenure is not as relevant in the modern era of social media and twitter mobs, because academia is turning into a monoculture of thought through self-censorship. It is understandable that the more diverse taxpaying public would start to question the purpose of protecting the views of a privileged elite class when they themselves…
> privileged elite class Professors most certainly are not a "privileged elite class." They're research/teaching specialists. Your talking point sounds straight out of some right-wing website/tv channel.
What is tenure if not a privilege? And if it isn't then what's the problem here? If tenure isn't something valuable then why are we discussing a story about it being taken away?
EDIT: Just lol at the downvotes and the comments here. Lots of snark, personal attacks, but no one actually able to explain how tenure is not a privilege.
Academic censorship has been around for a while. https://theintercept.com/2021/09/28/israel-palestine-unc-aca... https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-58765052 If you want academic freedom as a professor you can move to China so long as you don't cover China and the CCP.
There is something to be said for migrating to where one's efforts and beliefs are compatible with the prevailing governance.
I see a number of comments below hailing this as a good thing, one that will benefit students. These folks look at Universities as just another company and think this is normal. It is not. It is a terrible mistake and the GA system (and its students, and society) will be worse off for it. The notion of tenure wasn't developed to protect dead wood. It came about because historically it was often difficult to distingui…
“Our society relies on having a pool of people who cannot be easily silenced by their employers.” Those people are not tenured college professors.