In his latest On the Square Column , R.R. Reno considers whether it might be time to abandon the tenure system in higher education:
What is the real significance of tenure? We are often told that free-thinking academics need the security of tenure to preserve academic freedom and open debate. Really? Riley makes the entirely accurate observation that precious few professors write or teach anything remotely controversial. It’s hard to image how an exercise-science professor can get sideways with college trustees.Far from securing a free and open academic culture, tenure can have the opposite effect.
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