When we write our tuition checks, we expect to get what we pay for — a quality education worth thousands of dollars.
Tenure was initially set up to achieve just that. It was designed to allow teachers to address touchy issues and speak openly with their classes about controversial topics without fear of repercussion.
When first conceived, the idea was a positive step for education, but now it seems like an excuse for teachers to become lazy and be rewarded for minimal work. Tenure locks a teacher into a position they cannot lose without an adequate reason, which are typically extreme cases, and might lead some professors to fall behind in their area of expertise.
Tenure allows professors to keep their jobs without being challenged or pushed to keep up with the latest technology, research or active professional experience in a particular field. In other words, laziness is encouraged.
Our world is constantly changing, a lot faster than 10 years ago, and students expect professors to be equipped to educate us about these changes.
This does not apply to all tenured professors. Many of them are active researchers who take sabbaticals, leave of absences or spend summer months to further their education, which is a main point of tenure. But some do not.
Tenure doesn’t apply to every instructor. One of the best professors of our college education might not be tenured. It is required for teachers to have seven years of teaching experience to become tenured, but even then some are not included.
Tenure is reserved for teachers with a master’s or doctoral degree. This stipulation excludes teachers who have extensive professional experience in their fields and can provide real-life-focused education — an important asset in developing a career after graduation.
These teachers are classified as “clinical,” a designation the Idaho State Board of Education made earlier this year. Clinical instructors work under a three-year contract and do not focus on research, but on outreach and teaching.
Introducing clinical instructors creates a more diverse pool of teachers for students, and allows education built upon extensive professional knowledge. The position is a long enough period to make the hire worthwhile, but short enough to challenge them to stay up to date with their teaching methods. Combining clinical and tenured instructors gives college students the opportunity to get a well-rounded education.
College is a challenge for students — we challenge ourselves to make new friends, to earn good grades and to be successful in our chosen careers. The teachers whose classes we attend should also feel challenged to continue to strive to provide us with the best education possible.
We should get what we pay for — quality teachers with an ambition to succeed that matches our own.
— ER