Thanks to spyder for pointing me to this really excellent essay by Michael Berube on academic freedom and the threats to it currently. It's very long but worth the trip.
Faculty and instructors shall not infringe the academic freedom and quality of education of their students by persistently introducing controversial matter into the classroom or coursework that has no relation to their subject of study and that serves no legitimate pedagogical purpose.
It reminds me of the old stuff Communists did in my country. It was the same attitude to the faculty: "shut up and deliver your material". Such laws should not be passed.
All I can say in response is that college is not a kind of dinner party. It can indeed be rude to bring up religion or politics at a dinner party, particularly if you are not familiar with all the guests. But at American universities, religion and politics are two of the hundreds of things we discuss on a daily basis. It really is part of our job, evenor especiallyif some of us have unpopular opinions on those subjects.
Hear, hear! If Senator Mumper got his way, I would never have a job.
Thanks for the heads-up. It is indeed an excellent essay.
Faculty and instructors shall not infringe the academic freedom and quality of education of their students by persistently introducing controversial matter into the classroom or coursework that has no relation to their subject of study and that serves no legitimate pedagogical purpose.
It reminds me of the old stuff Communists did in my country. It was the same attitude to the faculty: "shut up and deliver your material". Such laws should not be passed.
All I can say in response is that college is not a kind of dinner party. It can indeed be rude to bring up religion or politics at a dinner party, particularly if you are not familiar with all the guests. But at American universities, religion and politics are two of the hundreds of things we discuss on a daily basis. It really is part of our job, evenor especiallyif some of us have unpopular opinions on those subjects.
Hear, hear! If Senator Mumper got his way, I would never have a job.