Argument against Megan McArdles Article

Argument against Megan McArdles Article The article Tenure: An Idea Whose Time Has Gone by Megan McArdle argues that the tenure system, which is employed by many colleges in the country, has little merit and should therefore be done away with. The author, who is a holder of an MBA from the University of Chicago, is well versed with how the system works.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Argument against Megan McArdle’s Article specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More She argues that the tenure system is an old system that guarantees jobs after a brief probationary process to university and college tutors whose contribution in the institute is sometimes minimal. I disagree with the claims made by McArdle that the tenor system is wasteful and has outlived its usefulness. In this paper, I will highlight the points made by the author which I do not agree with and proceed to support my stand on the issue so as to demonstrate that the tenure system is still relevan t today. McArdle argues that tenure results in a lack of accountability since once tenure has been obtained; the need to be competitive in teaching is removed since there is a job guarantee. She further demonstrates that professors who receive tenure are at liberty to indulge their intellectual interests and this has a negative impact on the students under their charge since the professor dedicates most of his time to his interests. This statement by McArdle is a generalization which may not necessarily be true for all tenured staff. It is true that some professors get carried away by their intellectual pursuits and contribute little knowledge to their students, but this are the minority. Majority of the tenured professors involve their students in their intellectual pursuits as student research assistants and help to further the knowledge of the students.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More I feel that McArdle presents an inadequate argument when she asserts that the quality of scholarship produced as a result of tenure is only valuable to a handful of scholars in the same field. McArdle seems to suggest that research and scholarship should have a wide consumer base so as to be regarded as valuable. The fact is that many tenured personnel in universities are experts in very specific fields. While their research work can have applications that are valuable for all humans, their research works and publications can only be understood by scholars who are competent in the particular field. The fact that only a handful of scholars can appreciate the research therefore does not diminish the value of the work done by the tenured staff as the author suggests. McArdle also states that tenure is a wasteful system since the costs of maintaining the system are very high. While it is true that tenure system has a high monetary cost, the academic institutes which make u se of the system do so willingly because they see its advantages. Tenure enables academic institutes to attract and retain the brightest minds that would otherwise be pulled by the big pay that private sector industries offer. While there are other means of attracting first rate minds to educational institutes, this means are very expensive since they require sufficient financial incentives to compete with the private industries. The system also makes the tenured staff loyal to the institute because of the job security they have. McArdle also argues that most of the scholars who are protected by the tenure system are old academics who are not producing any worthwhile research. The author declares that the people protected by tenure are old (in their sixties) and not producing any ground breaking new research.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Argument against Megan McArdle’s Article specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More She therefore argues that the young people who are capable of coming up with ground breaking research are denied the tenure that would assist them to work with relative freedom. This statement is misleading since to begin with, the author acknowledges that most academics get tenure between the age of 30 and 40 years. At this age, the academics are able to produce path-breaking new research that can have many positive impacts on the society. McArdle questions the scholarly competence of the individuals who acquire tenure. She states that tenure results in incompetent tutors being maintained by the institute in spite of their poor performances. I disagree with this view since tenure is given to members of staff who demonstrate strong academic capabilities and a deep commitment to their subjects. This is evident from the stringent requirements for tenure such as getting published in a credible journal. In many universities and colleges, there is a rigorous method for identifying c andidates for tenure which ensures quality of scholarship. McArdle herself admits that the stakes for tenure have been raised and employees are vetted very carefully before being given tenure. Scholars who are incompetent are therefore likely to be identified and removed from the tenure track. McArdle states that while the tenure system is supposed to be preserving the spirit of free inquiry at our nations college, it is not fulfilling this purpose since the tenure process removes radical elements and instead gives tenure to those academics who show scholarly commitment to the department. This assumption is wrong since tenure is offered to academics on merit and not as a result of their allegiances to the department.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More From the very beginning, the tenure system was created to ensure individual security and enhance a freer intellectually creative atmosphere by protecting competent staff from dismissal and reducing their accountability to the institute. In this paper, I set out to argue that the arguments given in the article â€Å"Tenure: An Idea Whose Time Has Gone by Megan McArdle are wrong since they fail to fully illuminate the topic. I began by noting that while the author is in a position of authority to write on the subject, she fails to make a strong argument for her case against the tenure system. Through this paper, I have provided my views on the topic and defended the tenure system. The tenure system still remains to be one of the means by which academic freedom can be preserved in our educational institutes. This system which has been in existent for decades is very important and its existence should be protected. McArdle, Megan. â€Å"Tenure: An Idea whose time has gone†. The Atlantic. 21 July 2010. Web. https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/07/tenure-an-idea-whose-time-has-gone/60187/.

EASTERN PHILOSPHER LETTER Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

EASTERN PHILOSPHER LETTER - Essay Example Of these different relationships, filial piety is the most important. Good family relationships can reform a society and thereby the government of any nation. Filial piety is the greatest virtue, and should be shown towards both the living and the dead. It is the love and respect for one’s parents and ancestors. Filial piety extends beyond the physical care of the parents. It means not to be rebellious, show love, respect and support. It means to uphold fraternity among brothers, to conceal their mistakes, advise parents when necessary, display sorrow at their sickness and death and most importantly carry out sacrifices after their death. Juniors should feel a strong sense of duty and reverence towards the seniors but at the same time, the seniors too should maintain duty of benevolence and concern towards the juniors. The soul of the departed relatives is dependent for happiness upon the conduct and attitude of their living descendents. One can fulfill duty by living a life of virtue, which contributes towards the glory and happiness of the dead. Everyone is born with good nature and this should not be spoilt by external influences. Temptations to evil appetites have to be resisted. Ignorance leads to attainment of vices and knowledge alone can lead one to lead a virtuous life. If students show solicitude for their parents at the end of their lives, and continue this with sacrifices when they are far away, then the virtue is restored to fullness. To perform the role in governing any nation or in the society, it is first necessary to perform the familial role successfully. If the emperor loves his subjects as he would love his own children, they in turn would love, respect and be loyal to him as their father. Filial devotion is not blind loyalty to one’s parents. A man shows true love and respect for one’s father if he remains loyal to his intentions for several years after the father’s death. During the father’s lifetime, you observe

Development of U.S Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Development of U.S - Term Paper Example Hamilton suggested that, as the government did not have the money available to buy the stock, it could be loaned to the government by the bank itself. However, Jefferson rejected the idea on the basis that it would be unconstitutional, since the government did not have the right to form corporations. This issues represented the idea of loose against strict construction of the constitution. Jefferson’s argument was based around the argument that any action not enshrined in the constitution as therefore automatically unconstitutional. Hamilton, on the other hand, took a more fluid view of the constitution, arguing that the government holds the power to take any action which is not specifically banned by the constitution. This view takes into account changes in society since the writing of the constitution. In order to set up a regular source of income for the government, Hamilton also set up the Tariff. This not only had the effect of increasing government revenue but also of protecting manufacturing in the U.S. It was therefore significant as a protectionist policy. This was to create a rift within the Federalists. Meanwhile, the issue of national debt, first exemplified in the establishment of the National Bank, was creating more tension between Hamilton and Jefferson. Jefferson strongly believed that public debt and government borrowing was a curse because it would place a serious financial strain on future tax payers. Indeed, he wished to see the constitution amended to remove the ability of the government to borrow. Hamilton, on the other hand, believed that public debt could be a useful tool. He aimed to use the money generated through the tariff to offset the extremely high debt inherited from the old government by reissuing bonds. He also wanted state debt to be assumed by the government, in order to further benefit from tariff revenue which was federal. The tariff, however, was

Arc of Justice Essay Example for Free

Arc of Justice Essay Arc of Justice by Kevin Boyle does a lot more than tell an account of an incident in 1920s Detroit, it goes deeper into the problems of people within the city as well as the city itself. The story focuses on Ossian Sweet, a man from a small town called Bartow, Florida whose parents sent him up north so he could have a chance to make something of himself, which he did. This, however, did not change the fact that he was a black man living in early 20th century America, and moved into the city of Detroit which was known to be the most segregated city in the United States (p. 44) Boyle digs into the personal life of Sweet, as well as the lives of people around him- black and white- to give the reader a clear, realistic aspect of how life was like in 1920s Detroit. The beginning of the novel depicts Sweet’s transformation from a country boy in Florida to an up-and-coming successful doctor in the busy city of Detroit. At the mere age of thirteen, Ossian was sent from the small farm his parents Henry and Dora had to the college in Ohio by the name of Wilberforce. There Ossian began his learning on a campus that was now where near as greatly funded as the white colleges like Harvard. From there he moved on to Howard University, where Ossian got an eye opener about himself as well as the problems with race. When he began his teaching in Harvard in the late 1910s, the race riots were a constant threat, and by living in Washington DC, Ossian got to see a lot of it.

Why was Northern Italy so much in the forefront of urban self-government? :: European Europe History

Why was Northern Italy so much in the forefront of urban self-government? There were various reasons for the ability of certain towns in Italy to establish a certain amount of self-government. The location of the maritime cities such as Genoa was able to benefit from the crusades making them powerful. This resulted in a knock on effect to the main inland towns and cities in the north due to increase in trade. This caused prosperity and growth, because of this and also because of certain socio-economic changes originating in the countryside, the cities and towns started to break away from the old feudal systems and look to a new order more beneficial to the newly formed city classes. Their ability to consolidate this new government was due in part to the political upheaval which existed between state and church. This can be seen within the conflict of Henry IV and Gregory VII. The concept of self-government showed a major change in power within the Northern towns of Italy. The traditional feudal system was replaced by a "commune", where all orders would share al rights and powers in common. This was implemented by an elected consul, where as before Kings such as the Lombard's installed governors to rule, or at other times a powerful Archbishop would be the ruling power. This can be seen in the rule of Archbishop Ansperte 868-81, (Ella Noyles p16) By the time of the 12th century, cities such as Milan had a government loosely based on the old Roman regime. This was a three tier system consisting of Captains - the higher nobility and clergy; the vassals- the lower nobility and an increasing middle class formed of merchants and land leasers; and the common people such as the artisans and peasants. A consul was elected to govern the commune and was re-elected every year. This consul was elected by all three orders not just the elite. This is what existed for self-government in the eleventh and twelfth century. The existence of self-government in the Northern Italian towns and cities was possible due to various reasons. In part it was location. The first crusades brought huge amounts of people and wealth into the maritime cities such as Genoa Pisa and also Venice. In consequence a great amount of trade was stimulated throughout Northern Italy and toward the inland towns and cities of Milan, Florence Ravenna and Pad ova to name a few.

Critics on the ” Discourse on the Arts and Sciences”

It can not be denied that with the development of science and technology, people live in a more comfortable way which they can never image one hundred years before. Sciences and arts change people's thoughts and improve human culture. Some changes may be good, others may be not that delightful, but no matter how, we still go forward in the wave of science revolution. What scientists do is all about human needs, not like Rousseau argued, which is only a result of pride and vanity.For example, do we  need cars, trains, planes? No, surly we can walk to anywhere by our own feet, no matter how long it takes or how dangerous it can be. Do we need phones? Of course not, I can yell from one mountain to the other trying to tell my mother I will get home later. Excuse for my sarcasm and please no offense, but I have to quote the criticism from Jules Lemaitre who thought the instant deification of Rousseau as ‘one of the strangest proofs of human's stupidity'.Material abundance also bri ngs some problems and the critical one is inequality which is the most important argument arised by Hippies. The conclusion they give is no more material, and we should all go back to primitive or so called as ‘noble savage'. Obviously it is an unadvisable and unrealistic idea. Inequality can not be absolutely avoided whether we use forks or not. Once wolves work together for hunting, there is an Alfa as a leader who is the strongest one of the term and will get more food for its protection from enemies.Is that fair for other members gain less because they are born weaker? Should they just abandon eating for avoiding unwanted impurity? Above all, I can't say agree to Rousseau for his attitude to sciences and ars. If there are any unfairness caused by sciences, what we should do is to creat more material wealth for everyone can afford luxury. There will be no inequality which is the same as primitive society, and the difference is ample material.

Malaysia Airlines Human Resource - 3276 Words

Executive Summary Malaysia Airlines Services or MAS is Malaysia national air transport service provider. Starting off in 1947, a small air service with just one twin engine Air Consul and now has become an award-winning airline with a fleet of more than 100 aircraft and servicing more than 100 different destinations. Three major human resource issues are being identified including over-supply of manpower and low productivity, discrimination and diversity. These three issues are being further explained and discuss in the following report. Over-supply of manpower and low productivity are seen as greatest problem that Malaysia Airlines was facing. The implication of the human resource issue include unpleasant working environment, low†¦show more content†¦Lead cabin crew can work till they are 45. Men retire at 55 no matter what their grade. This is considered discriminatory towards the employment policies, contrary to the Constitution and the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which Malaysia ratified in 1995. (Anis 2008) Apart from that, they also have physical discrimination on behalf of recruitment of air stewardess to join their cabin crew. For example, a requirement to become air stewardess is that they must have nice set of teeth, clear complexion (free of scars, acne and blemishes) and with a minimum height. 2.3 Diversity Malaysians on average are no exception to the general rule that money is the main reason why people go to work. But for the multi-cultural workforce, there are other factors which are considered important, in particular opportunities for self-development, growth and contribution to the community and nation. (Asma 1992) MAS recruit different nationalities of people from all over the world to join their crew. 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