Tenure Track

I have been accosted as of late by the notion and concept and ages-old institution of tenure. I have recently been hired for the first time, so now, many of my future plans revolve around achieving and retaining tenure. Tenure is a monster. It, and the unions associated with it, is what is driving the destruction of the Education field in the US today.
Tenure holds back the hiring of young, promising, newly trained, eager teachers. Tenure is responsible for retaining old, ineffectual teachers who are practicing old fashioned and ineffective methods. Tenure develops and encourages laziness in teachers and does little to protect the students from poor practices. What would happen if we abolished tenure? Teachers would actually have to engaged in continuous practice evaluation, educate themselves on new practices and pedagogy, and new teachers would have more of a chance in obtaining a permanent position.
Also, tenure is the great green monster who ties the hands of districts and administrators when they try to get rid of bad teachers.
Where is the benefit?

The infant stages of Natalie's training in technology

To begin with, my father never makes a big purchase, or any purchase for that matter, without first thoroughly researching the product, it's competitors and the place from which he will be bringing the product home. This in mind, of course it took him a solid 4 years to decide which computer he would buy. In addition, my dad extensively compared product reports when he decided to purchase the family's first hand held camcorder. Hand held is, of course, a slight misnomer. My dad balanced the monstrosity he came home with on his shoulder, and secured it to him in case of slip and falls with large black velcro straps. I still remember trying to type papers and surf the infant Internet on an old, blocky Mac computer.
Needless to say, my father did not run around picking up the latest, greatest, hottest gadgets. This taught me  to carefully choose my technological purchases and to place value not in material things, but in the time spent with those you love.