Topline
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposed freezing tenure for Texas public universities’ new hires over the teaching of critical race theory, saying tenured professors shouldn’t be permitted to “poison the minds” of students.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says tenured professors shouldn’t be permitted to “poison the minds” of … [+]
Key Facts
Patrick said one of his priorities for the upcoming Texas legislative session is to eliminate tenure for future hires at all 38 public universities in the state and to change tenure reviews for already-tenured professors from every six years to once a year.
Patrick also aims to make teaching CRT in the classroom grounds for revoking tenure, he said, and to give Texas public universities’ boards of regents—whose members are appointed by the governor and tend to be conservative—more power on issues of tenure.
A controversial term whose meaning is contested by academics and politicians, CRT was defined by Patrick as “an offshoot of critical legal studies, which is an offshoot of a socialist program (which says) that everything that happened in life is based on racism.”
Patrick’s comments were partly in response to the University of Texas’ Faculty Council passing a resolution Monday supporting faculty members’ freedom to teach CRT, gender justice and other subjects.
As lieutenant governor, Patrick leads the Texas Senate, sets up legislative priorities and determines which bills are sent to which committees—which can influence the likelihood of a bill getting out of committee—and even determines when a bill can come to the floor for a vote.
Patrick also said his idea is supported by Sen. Brandon Creighton, who chairs the Senate Higher Education Committee, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
Crucial Quote
“Universities across Texas are being taken over by tenured, leftist professors, and it is high time that more oversight is provided,” Patrick said Friday. “Tenured professors must not be able to hide behind the phrase ‘academic freedom,’ and then proceed to poison the minds of our next generation.”
Contra
Critics argue that stripping university faculty of tenure would discourage professionals from coming to Texas and hurt universities’ ability to hire the best talent. University of Texas faculty members expressed concern online about the institution’s ability to compete with other top research universities in recruitment. “Why would any decent professor accept a job in TX when other states offer tenure? This is just plain stupid,” progressive nonprofit Progress Texas said in a tweet Friday.
Key Background
Patrick’s comments signal a turning point in the culture wars in Texas, and a new focus on CRT on college campuses after Gov. Greg Abbott last year signed into law a bill that prescribes how teachers discuss race, current events and other subjects in public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. An increasing number of school districts in Texas have also announced book bans and investigations into school library collections amid a nationwide trend of parents and officials flagging concerns over books available to students, especially those that deal with topics like racism, sexuality and gender expression. Lawmakers in South Carolina have proposed a bill that would similarly do away with tenure over CRT.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/02/18/texas-lt-gov-wants-to-end-university-tenure-to-fight-critical-race-theory/