Posted on 04/02/2004 8:01:40 AM PST by momfirst
I would like help with my letter of complaint to the school board of the college I attend. The sociology instructor I had last term continually bashed the Bush administration and anything conservative. I know, nothing new there. I did, however, find a school board policy that he may have violated. I have drafted a letter, but I know there are so many well-educated people on this board I hoped someone may look it over and give me feedback before I send it. Here's the letter:
Dear Members of the School Board;
I am currently a Portland Community College student and am writing this letter to lodge a formal complaint against Andrew Butz, Sociology instructor. This issue is not regarding my grade, in contrast I received an ‘A’ grade in his Sociology 103 class last term. Despite the letter grade I received, I was extremely uncomfortable and dreaded attending each class. I realize that Sociology is the study of societies and that is what drew me to the class in the first place. I did not realize, however, that I was going to be subject to political propaganda each and every morning that only served his personal agenda, not two sides, only the liberal side. I also realize that the general aura of college life is liberal. Any conservative view is considered bigotry and thus those of us that have those views are refrained from sharing them and basically just keep quiet in fear of being ridiculed. I have learned to adjust and I do accept the fact that everyone is entitled to their views and freedom of speech. This does not mean, however, that the enforcement of certain political views are to be taught in a class where I paid tuition to learn about sociology as a whole.
According to School Board Policy B 702 - Political Activities, it states "No public employee shall solicit any money, influence service or other thing of value or otherwise aid or promote any political committee and aid, promote or oppose the nomination or election of a candidate, the adoption of a measure or the recall of a public office holder while on the job during working h ours. However, this section does not restrict the right of a public employee to express personal political views." It also states that employees may not use college telephones, rooms, offices or equipment for political activity, except in designated ‘free speech’ areas.
It is in this policy that Andrew Butz has crossed the line between expressing his personal political views and has used class time and equipment to solicit support of various political activities as well as oppose the reelection of our current president, George W. Bush. To be specific in how this line was crossed, I will outline some examples:
1. In the beginning of each class he reads off announcements. These announcements included activities on campus, but it also included a number of anti-corporate and anti-war protests. This issue is borderline and could be considered him expressing his own views. Others on this list clearly violate the policy, but this will help get the picture of the depth and saturation of the propaganda.
2. Beyond the announcements, he continued the start of class by reading statistics that that were in opposition of the war, in opposition of the president, and in opposition to capitalism.
3. During the last two classes, he circulated a large folder that contained his personal mail (with address removed) and strongly encouraged everyone to take information and "get involved". This folder consisted of political material including, but not limited to, solicitations for donations to organizations such as abortion rights groups and groups intent on defeating president Bush in the reelection. I will admit that I flipped though a few papers and since everything I saw was considerably liberal and against my personal values, I passed it on. The folder remained thick by the second time around and Mr. Butz again strongly encouraged us to take information and "get involved", passing it around again.
4. During our final class, our assignments were to give a 3-4 minute presentation. Figuring the number of people in class, this was a time-crunch as it was. To that extent, Mr. Butz arrived 5 minutes before class and got angry that students would use class time to cue their video’s, stating that was to be done before class. I repeat, he arrived 5 minutes before class start and had the video’s in his possession. He stated that since they would need to take class time to do this, we may need to stay late to get through all the presentations. Despite this fact, he used the first 20 minutes of class (I watched the clock) to do several things. He recited a mock "Pledge of Allegiance" that slammed corporate America and apologized for not having us repeat this from the start of term. He played a video from MoveOn.org that produced a negative ad against the Bush administration. Then he continued reading statistics he presumably got off the show Dateline the evening before regarding the war in Iraq. I also watched the Dateline episode and was familiar with the statistics he was reciting, only I noticed he omitted the statistics showing anything positive about U.S. occupation and rebuilding of the nation or anything positive about the ousting of Saddam Hussein. He focused purely on the statistics he thought proved that the war was wrong. This all took 20 minutes of class time. Subsequently, we were unable to get through all the presentations before class was over. Some students were required to stay late, one of whom I know had another final exam in her next class 10 minutes later. As I left on time, I am unsure what happened with that student or the others.
5. The final exam, a take-home exam, included a photocopy of a comic depicting our president in extremely negative light. No questions were pertaining to this comic, it was added as an enhancement to the test. I have enclosed a copy of this comic. I did not find it funny, I found it offensive.
6. Though the school policy didn’t specify religion, I do have to point out a statement he made in class that I will never forget and took great offense to. While on the subject of violence in America, he correlated that with the high rate of church going Christians we have in America. As a Christian, I couldn’t believe that he tied the two together, feeling like my religious beliefs were the cause of violence in this country.
My goal in drawing your attention to this issue is to take this opportunity to inform your instructors, namely Andrew Butz, that class time is just that, class time. Students have paid tuition to learn the subject at hand. This time is not to be used to solicit your personal political agenda nor foster the feeling of hatred for America and their current president. I was not alone in my feeling of dread of going to these classes. A fellow student commented on how she has never taken such a negative class and also felt like she and her views were being belittled. If bringing this issue to your attention prevents other students from being subjected to one-sided political speeches and message of disdain for their personal views, I will be satisfied.
Please take these issues seriously. Campus life is supposed to be a safe and comfortable place for all students. In this class, I felt like my way values were being labeled as ‘wrong’. I felt basically harassed, though I was not comfortable voicing my opinion, thus could not really be singled out. There is a time and a place for these activities, instruction time is not one of them. I would appreciate a reply to ensure this issue has been addressed.
Sincerely,
So as an employeer you want someone who will abandon common sense, family and reason in persuit of that career. Yes, I agree that that degree tells, an employeer, an awful lot about a person. This is the kind of person corporate America wants, but the Lord certainly doesn't want these things for a person.
The letter is too long. It also includes references to your political beliefs. These beliefs are not relevant to your complaint.
Strike complaint one completely. Forget about a laundry list of everything you don't like about the professor. I read announcements to my class when requested by the administration. It does not mean I support or disapprove of the activity.
I also think complaint two is shaky, unless you can support a claim that these statistics have no relevance to the class, whether you agree with them or not.
Complaint three is substantive. The professor was acting as a distribution agent for a political entity during class time. This is generally against college policy, and is normally a violation of the instructional contract.
Complaint 4. Forget this one.
Complaint 5. Good complaint. Again, use of school resources and facilities to put forth a political point of view. Additionally, probably a copyright violation if he did not get prior permission to use the cartoon, although this is frequently done and seldom punished. Key issue here, is was the cartoon relevant to the test material, or the subject matter, or was it simply a negative statement against President Bush? If so, it is a political statement, which is to be made on his dime and his time.
Instructors, even those I disagree with, have a right to generally express their opinions during class. However, they do not have the right to solicite for, attack or endorse candidates on school time. Confine your complaints to these areas and you have a reasonable chance of being heard. The other issues, although they reveal a disagreable person, would probably not be grounds for action.
You can also post an evaluation of this instructor at http://www.ratemyprofessors.com
This site has been around for a while, and I would like to see it get more hits. I think it could be extremely valuable. Work with others to keep attendance down in his class. One thing I'll guarantee you. Colleges want seats in the seats, and if a specific instructor routinely has trouble filling his classes because students avoid him, the college WILL pull him in, sit him down, and straighten him out.
This is a foregone conclusion. Simply stated, education pays dividends. Always has, always will. And a driven person is a person who will excell at anything they put their mind to. An undisciplined mind will do whatever they want, depending upon whatever mood they happen to be in.
So as an employeer you want someone who will abandon common sense, family and reason in persuit of that career.
Abandon common sense?? What degree tells you to abandon common sense? Most scientific degrees will tell you to abandon 'assumptions' that are unfounded; and use the 'scientific method' to derive the correct answer. I fail to see where the Lord would possibly be upset with people seeking an education. We were given a brain, of which we use less than 10%. In my belief system (ours apparently diverge here), one of the utmost commandments is "love one another", with "continue to learn" running a close second.
An employer certainly wants a person who is driven to achieve success. He doesn't want a person like me who refuses to take time to advance his seducation, refuses to work overtime, has removed all debt and could do comfortably with a much less job and places family and The Church much much higher than success at work. People who have jumped through all of those foolish hoops required to gain degrees are certainly more likely to keep jumping through hoops for their company. Yes that's what an employer wants but it is not what the Lord wants for a person.
How many of your hypothetical people persuing education spend what ratio of their time studying the nonsense shoveled in academia vs studying the bible? Even the question seems odd in the context of college and the professional world.
This falls distinctly into the realm of 'free will'. Some companies do demand a LOT of overtime, I have chosen to avoid working for these companies, for my family is first in my life. However, this is a personal decision; and each must make it for themselves. Usually, the companies that demand this kind of dedication, pay accordingly. Thus, the individual must decide if this is the company he wants to work for.
But, to lump all companies, and all college degrees into the same bin; is simply unfair. There are some companies that do not demand excessive overtime. Those that chose to put the time in, are usually rewarded with promotions and larger wages. As long as the activity is not illegal or negatively affects the company, most companies don't give a hoot what a person does outside of work.
And if studying the bible is what you like to do; more power to you. Personally, I found that the messages in the bible are fairly simple; and do not feel the need to study. Treat each other with love and respect, forgive those who wrong you, belive in Jesus, respect God, and try to do good. That's it in a nutshell.
It was a first draft, and a pretty good one. My first drafts of anything (letters, papers, memos) are generally about three times as long as my finished work. Best to you, and congratulations on continuing your education.
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