Beyond Feelings - Vincent Ruggiero [83]
In education the term tenure means "permanent position." The teacher who is given tenure cannot be fired, except for very grave reasons (such as a serious moral offense or the school's decision to eliminate the program in which he or she teaches). Some argue that tenure is essential to guarantee academic freedom and good teaching. Others believe that it destroys initiative and undermines good teaching. Should the tenure system be retained in its present form, modified, or eliminated?
In Asian cultures marriages have traditionally been arranged for young people. In our culture young people are free to choose their own spouses. Might it be a good idea, with our divorce rate soaring and so many families in disarray, for our culture to follow the Asian custom?
Since television became a major entertainment medium I n the late 1940s and early 1950s, the TV commercial has become as familiar as the newspaper. Yet few people know very much about commercials. How much do they cost? Who really pays for them? What effects do they have on our lives? Would pay TV be more desirable?
Animal intelligence ahs been a matter of scientific interest since at least the time of Darwin. Can animals "think" in any meaningful sense of the term? Can they form categories (friend, master, my species, and so on)? Are they aware of themselves and their activities? Do they have a sense of past and future, or do they perceive only the present moment?1
Interscholastic and intercollegiate sports competition is as American as apple pie. To many people the mere suggestion that these programs should be abolished is the ultimate heresy. But should they be so sacred? Where did the idea of varsity sports originate? Is it older than intramural competition? What are its good and bad point?
Many people believe that communists in Russia, China, and elsewhere are engaged in a plot to undermine other forms of government throughout the world and to replace them with totalitarian communism. Is this a reasonable belief?
Proponents of a guaranteed annual wage argue that by giving every adult person an assured amount of money, we would not only eliminate poverty and its terrible effects, but we would eliminate an entire bureaucracy – the giant welfare system – and perhaps even save money. Opponents see more harmful effects. What are some of those effects? Might they outweigh the benefits?
Laugh tracks and applause tracks are so much a part of television comedy shows that most people undoubtedly give them little thought. But some people object strongly to them, regarding them as manipulative and insulting. They propose banning them. Would you support such a proposal?
In this country gambling was traditionally prohibited by law. Yet today laws have been rewritten to permit states to sponsor lotteries and off-track betting. Is the movement to legalize gambling a healthy one for our society?
Historically in this country high school and college athletic budgets have been divided unevenly, with men's teams getting a larger share than women's. Many object to this unequal treatment, yet others believe it is justified because men's teams have traditionally demonstrated a higher level of skill. Which view is more reasonable? What changes, if any, should be made in the distribution of funds?
Compulsory education is so common today that we tend to forget it is a fairly recent historical development. However, some social critics are not only aware of its recency – they are convinced it is no longer a sound idea. In their view children, even as young as six or eight, should be permitted a free choice of whether they will study or not and, if they decide to do so, of what and where they will study. Among the important questions to be considered are these: Why was compulsory education begun? Was it a good idea then? Have the social conditions changed significantly since that time?
In some states the testimony of a woman who has been raped is not considered sufficient to bring charges against her assailant. There must be corroborating