Professor Wars
356 words.
Yesterday, the Crowhill Weblog referenced UCLA controversy might herald new front in culture wars, an article by Gwendolyn Driscoll. Perhaps you can guess GK’s viewpoint on the matter. Ten points if you picked, “college professors should only be robots programmed to recite conservative-government-regulated teaching curriculums.” (It’s remotely possible that I’m not stating his viewpoint fairly.)
Surprisingly, the article itself presents a balanced perspective on the alleged controversy, for which I give Ms. Driscoll kudos. That is what journalism is supposed to do. I would recommend reading the article if you’re unfamiliar with this particular front of the War on Culture.
To me, tape recording professors with “extreme views” about politics (whichever side they may fall on) and ratting them out smacks of McCarthyism. Besides, what rational thinking (or caring) person in this world doesn’t have extreme views on politics anymore?
The entire existence of the War on Culture is based on the fact that people are divided into two camps with opposite extreme viewpoints on cultural issues. Therefore, it seems self-evident that recording a professor’s extreme viewpoint is not meant to ensure that college professors remain neutral (a view that, by definition, cannot exist in the War on Culture), but to ensure that professors aren’t espousing an extreme viewpoint that is opposite to that of the recorder’s. Such opposite viewpoints must be eliminated in order to “win” the War on Culture. So anyone who wants to keep tabs on school teachers and professors have only two goals: 1) Make sure teachers are teaching “their” viewpoint, and 2) Countermand those few parents who have instilled morals and a questioning nature into their children.
I don’t really have a problem with taking some steps to ensure that chemistry classes don’t dissolve into political forums every day, but remember that these students will be out in the world someday and they (and us) would be better served by participating in debates on a variety of subjects. If a professor can’t spark their interest, what’s to keep the youth of America from sitting in front of an Xbox 360 all day long?
Besides, it’s always fun to rag on politicians.
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