conservative students sue so that they don't have to learn!
Stupid is as Stupid does
"Conservative students sue over academic freedom"
"(AP) — At the University of North Carolina, three incoming freshmen sue over a reading assignment they say offends their Christian beliefs.
(They did not want to read the Koran! Good thing they were not in a religion study class!)
In Colorado and Indiana, a national conservative group publicizes student allegations of left-wing bias by professors. Faculty get hate mail and are pictured in mock "wanted" posters; at least one college says a teacher received a death threat.
And at Columbia University in New York, a documentary film alleging that teachers intimidate students who support Israel draws the attention of administrators.
The three episodes differ in important ways, but all touch on an issue of growing prominence on college campuses."
---
"To many professors, there's a new and deeply troubling aspect to this latest chapter in the debate over academic freedom: students trying to dictate what they don't want to be taught.
"Even the most contentious or disaffected of students in the '60s or early '70s never really pressed this kind of issue," said Robert O'Neil, former president of the University of Virginia and now director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.
Those behind the trend call it an antidote to the overwhelming liberal dominance of university faculties. But many educators, while agreeing students should never feel bullied, worry that they just want to avoid exposure to ideas that challenge their core beliefs -- an essential part of education.
Some also fear teachers will shy away from sensitive topics, or fend off criticism by "balancing" their syllabuses with opposing viewpoints, even if they represent inferior scholarship."
---
"But many teachers note the guidelines also say instructors need not "hide (their) own opinions under a mountain of equivocal verbiage," and that their job is teaching students "to think for themselves.""
---
"Horowitz's critics also insist his campaign is getting more attention than it deserves, riling conservative bloggers but attracting little alarm from most students. They insist even most liberal professors give fair grades to conservative students who work hard and support their arguments."
So now, conservative students are so scared of hearing another point of view that they are suing their teachers so that they don't have to hear it! Gawd forbid that they open their minds and actually learn something that may conflict with their beliefs, challenge them, or even make them change their ideas! Notice that they are going so far as to issue death threats to those who do not agree with them! I know that every teacher is different, but i never experienced this bias from any teacher - you simply have to be able to justify your beliefs in an articulate fashion, which, of course, is difficult when you have beliefs that are not justifiable!
12-28-04 - Here's an interesting follow up to this article from commondreams
"Careful Not to Get Too Much Education...Or You Could Turn Liberal"
by Dr. Teresa Whitehurst
"I've been giving a lot of thought lately to a conversation I overheard at a Starbucks in Nashville last winter. ...two young men who sat down in upholstered chairs near my table. One was talking, the other listening, in what appeared to be an informal college orientation."
---
""But you do have to be careful about one thing," he said more quietly, coming closer and speaking in hushed tones, "My professor-I have this great professor-told me that you have to be careful not to get too much education, because you could lose your foundation, your core values."
The neophyte nodded solemnly, his eyebrows raised with worry.
"If you get a bachelors," the seasoned student reassured, "you'll probably be okay. But my professor said that when you get a master's, and definitely if you go beyond that, you can lose your values. He said that college students have to be watchful because if you get too much education, you could turn LIBERAL. He's seen it happen to a lot of good Christians." "
"Conservative students sue over academic freedom"
"(AP) — At the University of North Carolina, three incoming freshmen sue over a reading assignment they say offends their Christian beliefs.
(They did not want to read the Koran! Good thing they were not in a religion study class!)
In Colorado and Indiana, a national conservative group publicizes student allegations of left-wing bias by professors. Faculty get hate mail and are pictured in mock "wanted" posters; at least one college says a teacher received a death threat.
And at Columbia University in New York, a documentary film alleging that teachers intimidate students who support Israel draws the attention of administrators.
The three episodes differ in important ways, but all touch on an issue of growing prominence on college campuses."
---
"To many professors, there's a new and deeply troubling aspect to this latest chapter in the debate over academic freedom: students trying to dictate what they don't want to be taught.
"Even the most contentious or disaffected of students in the '60s or early '70s never really pressed this kind of issue," said Robert O'Neil, former president of the University of Virginia and now director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.
Those behind the trend call it an antidote to the overwhelming liberal dominance of university faculties. But many educators, while agreeing students should never feel bullied, worry that they just want to avoid exposure to ideas that challenge their core beliefs -- an essential part of education.
Some also fear teachers will shy away from sensitive topics, or fend off criticism by "balancing" their syllabuses with opposing viewpoints, even if they represent inferior scholarship."
---
"But many teachers note the guidelines also say instructors need not "hide (their) own opinions under a mountain of equivocal verbiage," and that their job is teaching students "to think for themselves.""
---
"Horowitz's critics also insist his campaign is getting more attention than it deserves, riling conservative bloggers but attracting little alarm from most students. They insist even most liberal professors give fair grades to conservative students who work hard and support their arguments."
So now, conservative students are so scared of hearing another point of view that they are suing their teachers so that they don't have to hear it! Gawd forbid that they open their minds and actually learn something that may conflict with their beliefs, challenge them, or even make them change their ideas! Notice that they are going so far as to issue death threats to those who do not agree with them! I know that every teacher is different, but i never experienced this bias from any teacher - you simply have to be able to justify your beliefs in an articulate fashion, which, of course, is difficult when you have beliefs that are not justifiable!
12-28-04 - Here's an interesting follow up to this article from commondreams
"Careful Not to Get Too Much Education...Or You Could Turn Liberal"
by Dr. Teresa Whitehurst
"I've been giving a lot of thought lately to a conversation I overheard at a Starbucks in Nashville last winter. ...two young men who sat down in upholstered chairs near my table. One was talking, the other listening, in what appeared to be an informal college orientation."
---
""But you do have to be careful about one thing," he said more quietly, coming closer and speaking in hushed tones, "My professor-I have this great professor-told me that you have to be careful not to get too much education, because you could lose your foundation, your core values."
The neophyte nodded solemnly, his eyebrows raised with worry.
"If you get a bachelors," the seasoned student reassured, "you'll probably be okay. But my professor said that when you get a master's, and definitely if you go beyond that, you can lose your values. He said that college students have to be watchful because if you get too much education, you could turn LIBERAL. He's seen it happen to a lot of good Christians." "
posted by rich at 9:18 AM
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