State Legislator Confronts 'liberal College Campuses'

Los Angeles Times ^ | Saturday, November 29, 2003

[Buck W.]

DENVER -- Worried that left-wing professors are using college classrooms to bully those who don't toe the liberal line, a Colorado politician says it might be time to pass a law protecting students who hold more conservative or religious views.

Republican state senate president John Andrews recently sent a letter to Colorado's 29 public colleges and universities, asking them to explain how they handle cases of ideological discrimination and how they promote diverse points of view. Their answers are due by Monday. If he's unhappy with what he hears, Andrews vowed, he'll sponsor legislation to "ensure academic freedom."

Exactly how the bill would do that has not been worked out yet.

"To say college campuses are liberal is like saying water is wet," Andrews said. "I have heard that a conservative viewpoint is decidedly unwelcome."

[Beaker]

Worried that left-wing professors are using college classrooms to bully those who don't toe the liberal line...
Oh believe me, they do. I've had more than one run in with extremely liberal professors who DO bully conservative students. And I really hate it when professors express their political opinions day in and day out, and hold no respect for other views. Makes me want to scream.

[Poser]

Wow. Good hit on 4 wasted years of a "liberal" education!! I was a victim and I couldn't agree more with your post. College "trained" me for zilch, as far as getting a job. (SMU in Dallas in case anyone is curious.)

I teach Financial Accounting and Business Computing at a major northeast state university. Out of 100 freshmen students, fewer than 5 of them care to learn the material well enough to use it at a job.

Students should not be allowed to attend college for at least 2 years after high school. Until they have worked for a couple of years at or near minimum wage, they have no clue or motivation. I can talk about work and how the subject relates to work, but until students have to support themselves with their own wits, the college tuition is wasted.

My best students are the ones who flunked out and returned after working for a while.

A liberal education wouldn't be a bad thing if students actually cared and paid attention to the subject matter. There are several majors that don't qualify the graduate for anything but "salesman", but a good work ethic will easily overcome the lack of technical skills. Many businesses would rather train a well-rounded worker with a strong worth ethic than hire a tech-school grad with a mediocre attitude.

I'll hire a philosophy grad who shows up and works hard over a business grad who thinks the world owes him a living any day.

[Indie]

I'm probably one of the few that applied myself and learned the material purely for the thrill of learning. I retained as much useful information as possible, even class notes and textbooks that could help me later such as Finance,etc with formulas and tables I could use as a resource if I ever forgot.

The piece of paper was in itself proof that I could finish what I start in 4 yrs. But as far as helping me in the world, it primarily taught me how to study and how to learn so that I'd be able to master the job I was applying for, since a complete re-training was required anyway.
But your point is well made. When I look back, I wish I had majored in something I was really interested in rather than a BBA. I covered the subjects I really was passionate about in the form of my electives.

I would always recommend, that a student go with their passion in a major, whether they intend to pursue it for a career or not. They will have a much more rewarding experience.

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

Capecodder --- I know what you're saying. I brought up the GI Bill to remind you how successful a voucher program can be. Your fears are unfounded.

[motzman]

There are several majors that don't qualify the graduate for anything but "salesman", but a good work ethic will easily overcome the lack of technical skills.

As if "salesman" is some kind of bad career choice...

I'll hire a philosophy grad who shows up and works hard over a business grad who thinks the world owes him a living any day.

It is usually the philosophy grad who thinks the world owes him a living and the business grad who shows up and works hard. At least in my part of the world...

[Poser]

As if "salesman" is some kind of bad career choice...

As far as I'm concerned, salesman is a great career choice. Few students plan it as a career. A good salesman is worth his weight in gold and can earn that much too.

[motzman]

Students should not be allowed to attend college for at least 2 years after high school.

Agreed.

[sailor4321]

I remember that day very, very well. Mario was not scheduled to speak (his request to do so had been turned down), but at an opportune moment he strode out and "took" the podium. The policeman took it back....

[little jeremiah]

Vouchers are a second best alternative until government schools are either a thing of the past, or 100% locally funded and locally controlled. But since that day is a long time into the future (if at all) vouchers would be a good step towards getting kids out of the government indoctrination centers.

[flying Elvis]

Ditto. Non-traditional students blow away the youngsters. In some cases, age does bring wisdom. I taught at a major university last year and the difference between non-traditional students and youngsters was night and day. Correspondingly, the best professors are the ones who have spent significant time in the real world busting their rear for a living. The tend to teach rather than preach and the students respect them much more.

[capecodder]

What is presently stopping concerned parents from forming their own 100% locally funded and controlled neighborhood schools?

Government control follows government money, sometimes swiftly, sometimes incrementally.

Here's a link to information about Grove City College refuses ALL federal funding: …In 1984 the court ruled largely for the school, admitting that the federal aid did provide an avenue for regulation but saying that the government couldn't regulate the whole school just because one department (in this case admissions) accepted federal dollars. That didn't sit well with liberals. Led by Sen. Ted Kennedy, they fought for legislation, ultimately passed over Ronald Reagan's veto, that changed the law. The result was to give the government much broader regulatory power as a result of federal funding. The upshot was that if, say, a Grove City student accepted any federal financial aid, the whole school would indeed be subject to federal regulations.

In a more recent case, the Halau Kumana Charter School in Hawaii prevailed in a case over "discrimination.": …the lawsuit involves "extremely unique circumstances" in that the Kamehameha Schools is a private entity that receives no federal funding.

[justshutupandtakeit]

The One Size Fits All philosophy never works very well. While I was a dud during my initial couple of yrs at college, my wife wasn't, my sons weren't and my nieces and nephews weren't.

[little jeremiah]

Having actually done just that (organized and taught a small private school, if you can call it that - just 8 kids) it is easier said than done. If parents (what to speak of non-parents) weren't taxed so heavily via property taxes to fund government schools, they might have some money to rent buildings, pay teachers, buy equipment and books, etc.

Also, the government rules and regulations concerning private schools are no lightweight matter. I did mine "under the table" - because there was no way we could ever have had our "facility" (someone's house) up to the legal standards for a private shool, nor did I have the legitimate credentials to be a legal teacher.

The point is the government has its nose in the business whether I or you or anyone wants it or not. And if things don't change, (not only in this area of concern but practically all others) we won't know our country in a short while.

The total government control over private aspects of life is already intolerable. Couple that with the stranglehold the federal government has over any local autonomy and we will soon be in a centralized socialist style state.

[capecodder]

The point is the government has its nose in the business whether I or you or anyone wants it or not. And if things don't change, (not only in this area of concern but practically all others) we won't know our country in a short while.

The total government control over private aspects of life is already intolerable. Couple that with the stranglehold the federal government has over any local autonomy and we will soon be in a centralized socialist style state.

Absolutely agreed.

[little jeremiah]

Got any ideas about how to turn this thing around? IMHO it's FUBAR but it's our duty to try anyway. God helps those who help themselves, etc.

Obviously Jim Robinson is doing his bit with FR! I hope that many peoples' eyes are opened by reading what's available on FR.

Maybe more Freepers and other rightminded people running for as many offices as possible.