Cannon, Amanda. (2009) Tenure

In the modern education system, one of the main goals of professors is to gain tenure in their jobs. Having tenure means that one cannot be replaced except for in the case of proven illegal activity. Rather than having a contract that is renewed each year, professors with tenure are able to stay at their jobs as long as they desire. Tenure provides academic freedom in that it allows professors to teach what they wish without the worry of getting fired because of offending someone. After several years of successful work, it is possible to become tenured. Although this seems like a respectful and honorable thing to do for dedicated workers, tenure definitely has a downside.

Tenured positions prevent new employees from getting a job at a college. It is certainly true that age and experience go hand in hand and result in a well educated, wise professor. However, with age comes an older way of doing things. Whereas new teachers come in with fresh ideas and methods, teachers who have been at their jobs for extended periods may continue in set ways and patterns. Tried and true is not necessarily a bad thing, but often it is helpful to at least consider a different approach. Also, in a world that is being filled with more gadgets daily, older professors may not be equipped with the knowledge of how to fully use technology to their advantage. Students sometimes learn better with the use of technological devices, and younger professors are usually more open to deviating from the standard educational path.

In addition, just because teachers have been able to do their jobs decently doesn’t mean they are the best person for the position. Perhaps someone else would have a more effective teaching style. On another note, professors may start out wonderfully for the first few years, then become jaded by the constancy of work, or just begin to lose the love they once had for the career. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they will quit. They’re set for life with this job; they’re able to stay as long as they wish without the threat of being replaced. Why would they choose to leave and start from scratch? Here, tenure leads to basically handing money to employees who have no passion left and are therefore unable to work as well as someone who is ready and willing to make a difference in the lives of college students. Times have changed and students want to be entertained, not lectured to every day. Perhaps college was not intended for entertainment purposes, but society has taught students they need to be entertained. If professors don’t respect that need, students become bored, which leads to the mind wandering, which ultimately leads to not learning anything at all. There’s no use in having been in a position for years if the students are not being taught.

There are alternatives to tenure that still give benefits to employees. One option is a long-term contract, such as 10 years, that is renewable after evaluation. Unless teachers are doing horribly, they will most likely be rehired because it’s easier than finding someone new. Contract systems provide also academic freedom, which abolishes the need for tenure altogether. Another choice is to give more options to new employees, such as the opportunity for frequent sabbaticals—time off work while still being paid. People are less likely to take tenure track positions when the nontenure track is equally rewarding.

All in all, tenure, although beneficial to those receiving it, brings little or no benefit to anyone else. It lowers the chance of new teachers finding jobs and potentially decreases the amount that a student learns in class. Before a professor is granted tenure, administrators should ask themselves the question, “Is it worth it?” Is it really that important to promise not to fire someone? Does anyone really deserve to keep their job, no matter what? Tenure merely serves as a reason for professors to slack off and not teach as well as they are capable of teaching. Once tenure is given, there is no incentive for professors to work hard. They may still do their jobs, but they no longer fear termination, so they can get away with doing less and less. There are several alternatives to tenure that should be explored, because in order for the education system to reach its maximum potential, and for students to learn as much as possible, tenure must be removed from colleges.