As I’ve stated several times before, this is not a political website, but when politicians insert themselves into one of my arenas of interest, and in this case higher education, I sometimes feel the need to comment.
This week, President Obama spoke at a high school in Iowa and was asked about colleges that express political points of view. Obama gave an excellent answer regarding the need for open conversation in classrooms, “to create a space where a lot of ideas are presented and collide and people are having arguments and people are testing each other's theories, and over time people learn from each other.”
He strongly disagreed with some of today’s students’ “need to be coddled and protected." And he condemned those who present the perspective that "I'm too sensitive to hear what you have to say."
Right on, Mr. President!
But wait, let’s think about these remarks a little more thoroughly. Just this week, the Washington Post reported on the University of California’s ever-expanding codes for accommodating student sensitivities. Is the president really willing to criticize the Berkeley bastion of tolerance? Did the president speak up when University of Maryland students protested the film American Sniper? Would he have stood up for free speech if the creepy Language Guide at the University of New Hampshire had been passed? Has he ever publicly censured the steady stream of university students that protest, shout down, or cancel speakers with whom they disagree?
And who is running these universities anyway? Turns out, professors have not only traditionally been on the left side of the political spectrum, but they are tilting even further leftward. And those professors are often led by administrators who have the same beliefs. Ivies like Harvard, where Obama attended, are some of the least politically diverse colleges in the nation.
One has to wonder if the president realizes that he seems to be in direct conflict with much of the actions and ideologies of his most vociferous supporters.
While he spoke on the topic of “coddling” young people, we must also consider that the man speaking those words has constantly intervened for students in paying for college (rather than letting students pay their own way, as so many of us and our parents did), extended unemployment benefits so young adults don’t have to take jobs they don’t like, supported the insinuation that young women are not smart or accountable enough to provide their own birth control, and passed legislation that allowed young adults not to be responsible for their own healthcare until the age of...26!
Who is doing the coddling, Mr. President?
And while the president extols the fundamentals of free speech in his remarks, should we be reminded of the unprecedented suppression of journalists during this administration?
While I never teach politics in my classrooms (and I pride myself on the fact that no students ever actually know where my loyalties lie—I disagree with both major parties on a host of issues, and my air of mystery and challenge of every conceivable argument drive my students, to my delight, absolutely crazy), I do teach logic and communication. I adore the president’s insightful remarks to those students as they prepare for the academic challenges that lie ahead of them. But I also believe in consistency of messaging. I hope all teachers, administrators, and students heed the president’s call for open dialogue and vigorous debate on college campuses. That is how we all become wiser citizens and better people.
And I certainly agree with him that “coddling” young people isn’t good for anybody. But whether those kids are at home, at school, or at the voting booth, they must be led by example. And that’s the hardest part.
This week, President Obama spoke at a high school in Iowa and was asked about colleges that express political points of view. Obama gave an excellent answer regarding the need for open conversation in classrooms, “to create a space where a lot of ideas are presented and collide and people are having arguments and people are testing each other's theories, and over time people learn from each other.”
He strongly disagreed with some of today’s students’ “need to be coddled and protected." And he condemned those who present the perspective that "I'm too sensitive to hear what you have to say."
Right on, Mr. President!
But wait, let’s think about these remarks a little more thoroughly. Just this week, the Washington Post reported on the University of California’s ever-expanding codes for accommodating student sensitivities. Is the president really willing to criticize the Berkeley bastion of tolerance? Did the president speak up when University of Maryland students protested the film American Sniper? Would he have stood up for free speech if the creepy Language Guide at the University of New Hampshire had been passed? Has he ever publicly censured the steady stream of university students that protest, shout down, or cancel speakers with whom they disagree?
And who is running these universities anyway? Turns out, professors have not only traditionally been on the left side of the political spectrum, but they are tilting even further leftward. And those professors are often led by administrators who have the same beliefs. Ivies like Harvard, where Obama attended, are some of the least politically diverse colleges in the nation.
One has to wonder if the president realizes that he seems to be in direct conflict with much of the actions and ideologies of his most vociferous supporters.
While he spoke on the topic of “coddling” young people, we must also consider that the man speaking those words has constantly intervened for students in paying for college (rather than letting students pay their own way, as so many of us and our parents did), extended unemployment benefits so young adults don’t have to take jobs they don’t like, supported the insinuation that young women are not smart or accountable enough to provide their own birth control, and passed legislation that allowed young adults not to be responsible for their own healthcare until the age of...26!
Who is doing the coddling, Mr. President?
And while the president extols the fundamentals of free speech in his remarks, should we be reminded of the unprecedented suppression of journalists during this administration?
While I never teach politics in my classrooms (and I pride myself on the fact that no students ever actually know where my loyalties lie—I disagree with both major parties on a host of issues, and my air of mystery and challenge of every conceivable argument drive my students, to my delight, absolutely crazy), I do teach logic and communication. I adore the president’s insightful remarks to those students as they prepare for the academic challenges that lie ahead of them. But I also believe in consistency of messaging. I hope all teachers, administrators, and students heed the president’s call for open dialogue and vigorous debate on college campuses. That is how we all become wiser citizens and better people.
And I certainly agree with him that “coddling” young people isn’t good for anybody. But whether those kids are at home, at school, or at the voting booth, they must be led by example. And that’s the hardest part.