Comments on: Testing Tenure: Let the Market Decide http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/07/testing-tenure/ books, essays, columns, reviews, and multimedia clips of famed skeptic Michael Shermer Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:27:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: tom merle http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/07/testing-tenure/comment-page-1/#comment-1380 tom merle Wed, 21 May 2008 05:13:20 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/07/testing-tenure/#comment-1380 I think what is meant is that those who support an institution of higher learning, parents and students, enter into agreements freely chosen. These agreements implicitly and explicitly lay out what is expected in the way of services rendered. Some of those who purchase such services wish to have cracker jack teachers whose power of delivery is more important than advancing some body of knowledge through rigorous research (knowing more and more about less and less). Some want high powered scholars which give the school cachet among scholars and therefore the wider world,and where the student can benefit from the knowledge imparted by the most renowned scholars. In any event, a college or university owes it to those who fork out 40 grand a statement detailing what will be provided for these funds on that particular campus. In turn, the college or university enters into contracts with the providers to ensure that they perform their duties as understand in the agreement between buyer and seller. If these providers, the faculty, fail to deliver on the agreed to requirements then the university should be able to terminate the faculty member for breach of contract. I think what is meant is that those who support an institution of higher learning, parents and students, enter into agreements freely chosen. These agreements implicitly and explicitly lay out what is expected in the way of services rendered.

Some of those who purchase such services wish to have cracker jack teachers whose power of delivery is more important than advancing some body of knowledge through rigorous research (knowing more and more about less and less). Some want high powered scholars which give the school cachet among scholars and therefore the wider world,and where the student can benefit from the knowledge imparted by the most renowned scholars.

In any event, a college or university owes it to those who fork out 40 grand a statement detailing what will be provided for these funds on that particular campus. In turn, the college or university enters into contracts with the providers to ensure that they perform their duties as understand in the agreement between buyer and seller. If these providers, the faculty, fail to deliver on the agreed to requirements then the university should be able to terminate the faculty member for breach of contract.

]]> By: John Beck http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/07/testing-tenure/comment-page-1/#comment-1314 John Beck Thu, 15 May 2008 22:06:37 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/07/testing-tenure/#comment-1314 I do not understand how letting each institution determine their own conditions of tenure is 'letting the market decide.' Mind you, I don't disagree that each institution should be able to determine the own conditions of tenure, I'm just confused on how market forces would get involved in it. I do not understand how letting each institution determine their own conditions of tenure is ‘letting the market decide.’

Mind you, I don’t disagree that each institution should be able to determine the own conditions of tenure, I’m just
confused on how market forces would get involved in it.

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