The Education of a Classically Liberal Educator. Campus wokeness still exists, but it doesn’t have to define the job.

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | July 12, 2023 | Jon Murphy

[karpov]

I began teaching at the university level in June 2018, while I was still a graduate student at George Mason University. This upcoming year, I’ll begin a tenure-track assistant professorship at Nicholls State University in Louisiana.

While it may be strange to have reflections on such a relatively short teaching career, I’ve found that my experiences contain nuggets of wisdom for the classically liberal educator.

Much has been written about an illiberal turn in higher education. It seems one cannot open a trade paper or blog without reading stories about a tenured, well-respected professor getting in trouble or fired for making politically incorrect statements. Classical liberals have much to be concerned about.

But I wish to share some reasons for optimism from my relatively short career and to discuss the actions that have allowed me to thrive in higher education.

How can I be optimistic? There certainly are causes for pessimism about the future of freedom of thought, education, and the press. During my job search, many schools required DEI statements. In some of my interviews, DEI was the focus of questions. In one interview, a DEI officer was present and taking notes during the interview. Such behavior is chilling and reflects a lack of attention by the institution to ensuring quality education and a focus, rather, on certain non-educational goals.

DEI, as instituted in many universities, is probably the single largest threat to liberal education in the U.S. right now. My point is not about DEI goals per se, but rather the methods universities are choosing to achieve those goals.

DEI is starting to retreat, though. Some places, like the University of North Carolina System, have banned mandatory DEI statements for professors and students.

[RoosterRedux]

In some of my interviews, DEI was the focus of questions. In one interview, a DEI officer was present and taking notes during the interview. Such behavior is chilling and reflects a lack of attention by the institution to ensuring quality education and a focus, rather, on certain non-educational goals.

This is very similar to the growth of the Nazi Party in Germany in the 1930's.

Party loyalty was absolute. Other matters were shoved aside.

[The_Media_never_lie]

What is meant by classically liberal education?

[foreverfree]

bump

[SauronOfMordor]

A classic liberal education used to be about being able to read complex material with understanding, being able to use logic to examine data and come to rational conclusions, and be able to articulate your resulting opinions persuasively.

This is what universities used to be paid to train people to do, rather than indoctrination in the current orthodoxy.

[libertylover]

“but it doesn’t have to define the job”
So why are 85% of college professors far-left Democrats?