The War Room

QUICK DISPATCH: DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION IS ABOUT DIVERSITY OF IDEAS

The War Room has written much about the topic of freedom of speech and thought in education over the past several weeks and we will continue to make this a recurring topic. Warwick has posted a link to this editorial in The Washington Times concerning a study entitled: "Politics and Professional Advancement among Faculty," by Stanley Rothman, emeritus professor of government at Smith College; S. Robert Lichter, a professor of communications at George Mason University; and Neil Nevitte, a political science professor at the University of Toronto”.

This is perhaps one of the most serious issues facing young people currently studying at any level of education. Some of them sadly do not even know it. Even more to the point, many parents (even conservative, Christian or libertarian ones) have absolutely no idea what their children are being taught, how they are being taught and the pressure that many of them face to believe things that in many cases are not true and contrary to what should be taught in a country which many believe aspires to be a functioning democracy.

This editorial at least shines a small ray of sunshine onto what has been a very dark period in the Western educational system. A taste of the editorial:

“ In some of these classrooms, conservative students are intimidated into silence, ignored or occasionally ridiculed. Accordingly, although belatedly, the June 23 "Statement of Academic Rights and Responsibilities," led by the American Council on Education, may finally awaken college trustees and alumni to the degree of indoctrination instead of free inquiry that characterizes much of higher education, particularly in the more elite institutions.”

Again, at my university, Queen’s at Kingston, Ontario, even worse happened than ridicule with some students being framed for crimes they didn’t commit because of their views. Lives were threatened and careers destroyed.

This editorial and the study it refers to is a small start but alas…it is a start. The War Room will try to find the complete study and discuss it at a later date. Thank you to Warwick for bring our attention to this article. Thanks also for those that shared personal stories in the comments sections of our last posts.

posted by Nicol DuMoulin @ 6:06 PM