Last month, a story broke out of Denver regarding an English professor at Metro State College, Andrew Hallam. The story is not unusual, rather, unfortunately, it is all too common. It seems a couple of his students have filed a complaint with the university regarding Mr Hallam's term writing assignments.
In the aftermath of the Republican Convention, Mr Hallam, who informs his students that he is a Democrat (very relevant to his course, you know), assigned his class to write a paper designed to refute the "fairy tale" about Sarah Palin portrayed at the convention. The paper was required to list three main points critical of Governor Palin.
Never mind that there may possibly be a student or two in the class who like Palin.
Well, apparently, a couple of students do-enough to appear on the Bill O'Reilly show on Fox and tell their story. So now, in light of the furor, the college is "conducting an investigation", which in the parlance of higher education means grabbing a flashlight, bending over and looking for you-know-what.
I wish I could say that this incident is an exception to the rules of teaching in American universities. Unfortunately, it is typical in an environment where liberals rule and feel it their mission to drive their agenda down the throats of their students. When some students, parents, or outside voices complain, the university will "look into the matter" until the whole thing blows over. Then it is business as usual.
I also teach English in an American university (English as a second language at the University of California at Irvine-Ext). My students have no idea of my political persuasion or ideas. My job is to teach them English. I don't assign them to write papers on topics reflecting my point of view regardless of their own.
While I was spending my last five years as a trainer in DEA's Office of Training at Quantico, Va, my teaching experience centered around adult education. During those years, I was able to obtain my Masters degree through the University of Virginia while taking night classes at the FBI Academy. The students were FBI and DEA agents, plus Marines. On one occasion, a young graduate teaching assistant came up from the main campus at Charlottesville to teach a class. The first lesson in teaching adults is to know your audience. This young lady began spouting her liberal dogma then stated that she didn't think it was unpatriotic to burn the American flag. At that, the class erupted, the gal left in tears and vowed never to return to the FBI Academy.
I would suggest Mr Hallam try to take his views into a class full of mature adults with life experience and their own views of the world and try to shove his biased views down the throats of those students.
It would be an education for him.
I really think you're wrong: stuff like this IS the exception. In my four years of college, including two at UCI, I never once had to do a partisan assignment like this.
ReplyDeleteNow, were some of my professors critical of the right? Certainly. In a field like political science (my major), a major part of it is going to be critiquing political theories, figures, beliefs, etc. There are also conservative professors who espouse their views as well. That is fine. Political science would be a very boring field if it weren't for partisan debate.
As for this particular assignment, I don't think it was a good one. In teaching, I feel it is more important to encourage critical thinking than to impart one's own views on their students. Teaching should also not be simply training students to regurgitate facts and figures. A better assignment would have been to ask the students who liked Palin to write an essay critical of her and for the students that didn't like her to write an essay favorable of her.
Bryan,
ReplyDeletePerhaps, I did not articulate that point as well as I could have. What I meant was too common was liberal professors driving their personal view of the world down the students' throats. I did not mean to say that writing assignemtns like Hallam's were the rule.
I can imagine that teaching political science is difficult without revealing some of your views. But in English? I assume this was a composition class, and writing opinion/persuasive essays is prevalent in college. I also teach ESL students how to write opinion essays. But I think it is appropriate to let the student write his or her own views on the given topic.
As an English teacher, I can say that oftentimes we are discussing ideas, so my opinions do come out. In fact, today I said what my feeling were on abortion. My point, however, was to just discuss the complexity of the issue and how both sides rarely listen to what the other one is saying. (What prompted this was an oral presentation that a student did on abortion - where they got to pick the topic that they wanted.)
ReplyDeleteStill, I say things like that in very careful terms and preface it with "that's just my opinion, you're not required to agree with it." I've even disagreed with some of the points that the kids have made, mostly about trivial stuff - like having an open campus for seniors and stuff like that - but even with things like that, I tell them that I grade them on how they made their case, not on whether I agree with them or not.
Shoot, I had to bite down on my tongue today, as the collaborative teacher was being really patronizing toward me and my lack of belief in the afterlife. She asked me why I didn't believe in God and all of that, and I just said that I used to. She asked me why I no longer did, but I just smiled and said that I wasn't going to get into it - especially not in front of all the students, as I can't really express it without sounding like I'm "preaching." (What prompted it was a discussion about the use of the supernatural in Macbeth. You would have been proud of me, as my online persona would indicate that I'm much more forthcoming with my opinions.
With all that said, I can say that even as an English major in San Francisco State, I never experienced that sort of a thing - and I'm pretty sure that there are one or two liberals there.
Oh, and that writing assignment is indeed a lame one. I can't imagine myself (even if I did teach at the college level) assigning something like that.
Ultimately, I'm careful not to preach my views in class for two reasons:
1) It's simply tacky to do that, and it's not the proper place.
2) Ultimately, I don't feel that it does my views any good to do something like that. It would only be preaching to the converted and annoying those who disagreed.
Considering that I've had a lot of kids on the opposite end of the political spectrum have some very kind things to say about me (one completely-right wing, ultra conservative Christian kid came back after three years to come and visit me - and as far as I could tell, he was still pretty far to the right) I think that I'm probably doing something right.
Oh, and do I win a prize if my response is longer than your original post?
Lance,
ReplyDeleteIn college, (LA State)I once had a French teacher who always wormed her views into the conversation.
Your co-teacher was out of line in talking like that in class-in front of the students no less. It would have been more appropriate to corner you outside of class-even in the office.
One or two liberals at SF State. That's like saying there are one or two Catholics in the Vatican. Besides, you can't have a demonstration with only one or two liberals. It takes about ten to burn a flag.
By the way, see tonight's blog. I actually take a shot at McCain (Fair and balanced always).
And no, you don't get a prize. Keep trying.
One or two liberals at SF State. That's like saying there are one or two Catholics in the Vatican.
ReplyDeleteNext you'll tell me that the Pope is Catholic.
Just because the Pope lives in the Vatican doesn't mean he's Catholic. What are you playing, guilt by association?
ReplyDelete