Tenure in America Essay -- Education

Although there are many varying opinions on what revisions should be made to the tenure system in America, I believe that even though there are many complaints, Tenure needs to be maintained in order to promote academic freedom and educational security. Tenure is defined by Mathew Finkin as â€Å"At the expiration of a period of probation, commonly not to exceed six years of full-time service, a faculty member is either to be accorded â€Å"tenure† or to be given a terminal appointment for the ensuing academic year. Thereafter, the professor can be discharged only for â€Å"just cause† or other permissible circumstances and only after a hearing before a body of his or her academic peers† (Finkin 3). Tenure, in recent years, has become a point of heated contention throughout the U.S. Opponents of the system cite reasons such as the continual employment of under-performing teachers, the administrative difficulties, and the public disillusionment with the tenure sy stem in order to support their stance that tenure be abolished. Proponents of the system argue that tenure is the one barrier that allows teachers to maintain academic freedom in the U.S., and effectively educate students in America. Regardless of the administrative difficulties of tenure, or the lack of public support, tenure is a vital component of the education system in America and should be maintained at all cost. There are many varying issues that have been brought up with tenure, but the debate has been clearly divided by those who believe that we should abolish tenure and those who believe we should maintain tenure in America. The primary advocates of maintaining the tenure system consist of Teachers and a portion of the public. On the other hand, those who argue against tenur... ... the fact that not only do these presidents have tenure themselves, but they also have first-hand experience in dealing with tenure issues. Works Cited Daniel Weisberg. "Should teachers get tenure?." Should teachers get tenure?. CBS, n.d. Web. 7 May 2012. . M.J. Stephey "Should teachers get tenure?." Should teachers get tenure?. CBS, n.d. Web. 7 May 2012. . Heather Wolpert-Gawron "Should teachers get tenure?." Should teachers get tenure?. CBS, n.d. Web. 7 May 2012. . Chait, Richard. The questions of tenure. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2002. Print. "Tenure Cartoons and Comics." CartoonStock - Cartoon Pictures, Political Cartoons, Animations.. Original Artist, n.d. Web. 23 May 2012. .