Professors and Politics

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Michael, Oct 16, 2010.

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  1. Michael

    Michael Member

    If a student has a certain political persuasion, and a professor has the opposite, is that something to be considered when taking a course?

    Example: I would say that generally I'm a conservative libertarian, but at one of the schools I'm considering, a professor from whom I would take probably one-third or more of my degree's courses is very liberal. Might this affect how I would do in the course?
     
  2. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    Only if the professor is an unethical d-bag who can't tolerate students having independent thought. I think it depends on your major as well. If you're going to write a paper that is in direct opposition to what you know he believes, make sure you can defend your position in an intelligent, non-abrasive manner.
     
  3. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Maybe, but it depends on the instructor. Some just want to be right all the time, others like sparring with uppity students. What are you majoring in? Have you checked him/her out on RateMyProfessors.com yet?

    -=Steve=-
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Here's my advise. If you're going to turn in a paper that supports a position contrary to that of your instuctor then it had better be a damn good paper.
     
  5. truckie270

    truckie270 New Member

    From a faculty view, at least in my experience, I really do not have the time, energy, or inclination to argue politics with a student. I have a very strongly-held set of political beliefs that I keep to myself. There are occasions when political views infiltrate my classes (discussion on the government response to Katrina for example). Regardless of the position of the student, I try to point out the counter argument whenever I can. I do not force my views, but will expand upon them tactfully if pressed.

    The majority of my problems with politics in the classroom have not evolved from a student/faculty transaction, but usually when one or more students take a discussion off track with a political diatribe. A few prompts in the discussion to either support a position or leave it out of the discussion usually cure this.

    If a student wants to integrate a political component in an assignment, he/she better have support for the position regardless of the stance taken. Saying that the government response to Katrina was flawed because G.W. Bush hates black people (yes, I have had students use that in assignments) is a quick way to a failing grade not because of the opinion but because it is totally unsupported with any facts from a reputable reference. I have gotten into the practice of grading students down for critical thinking when their research efforts consist of a Google search and taking the first few results - usually a blog post from somewhere.

    Granted, I am an adjunct in the online environment and not in the traditional tenured-track faculty model where there is an overwhelming desire to "mold" young minds in the professor's image and worldview for the sake of ego. I also have the benefit of teaching students who are employed in my industry and share many of my professional experiences, so the commonalities usually lead to many shared views on politics.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 16, 2010
  6. Michael

    Michael Member

    The degree I'm considering is a master's in English.

    I'll check the prof on that site -- thanks.
     
  7. Michael

    Michael Member

    Thanks to everyone for all the helpful responses.
     
  8. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    This happens sometimes.
     
  9. Mitchell

    Mitchell New Member

    My strategy would be that if a professor's political beliefs differ from mine, I wouldn't let him know what mine were. Keeping him in the dark would be part of the fun.
     
  10. smokey2011

    smokey2011 Member

    How can you not consider Kayne West a credible source?
     
  11. james_lankford

    james_lankford New Member

    Kayne West is an incredible source :)
     
  12. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    What a fantastic comment! Amphiboly at its best!
     
  13. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    It shouldn't be and, if all professors were true professionals, it wouldn't be. Alas, with hundreds of thousdands of very different people teaching at higher education institutions, there are many who see political indoctrination and the "enlightenment" of students who were obviously misled by others as part of their academic "calling."

    Years ago, I taught a class called "Hispanic Heritage in the Southwest," which, due to the broad racial mix of the students, I was able to expand into discussions of various current topics, including bilingual education, welfare, the role of government in people's lives, and several other topics. I told my students that if I did my job right, they would not know my political leanings, as it was my job to present arguments from both sides of an issue and to let them formulate their opinions (and back them up). Their grades would not be a result of agreeing with me, but in their ability to find and use good data sources, articluate their opinions and defend them. What was remarkable about this class for me was that it broke with racial stereotypes, as students from the same race were often found on the opposite side of controversial questions.
     
  14. Daniel Luechtefeld

    Daniel Luechtefeld New Member

    I once had a professor, very far to the left, a giant in one of the specialties within Asian Studies. Somewhat absent-minded, dissheveled, disorganized.

    But If you attempted to suck up to him by parroting his positions he would cut you to shreds. Embarrass you in front of the class.

    We held a sort of interrogation/debate every Friday - it was a notoriously stressful hour among the body of students that had encountered him.

    He was skilled at presenting counter-arguments from multiple perspectives, and would use this to expose flaws in student arguments. Never mind that the positions presented coincided with his own private convictions.

    His reasoning: students would forget the material taught in the class, but his goal was to teach the students the satisfaction that came from researching and building an argument that held water. This skill would serve students long after they moved onto careers that had no relationship to the material.

    My hat's off to you, James Palais. In your memory, may your students mold students with the same vigor and integrity with which you did.
     
  15. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    Everyone has opinions. Professors are often paid by schools, because of their opinions. Of course, everyone has an opinion about anything they are exposed to. This includes politics.

    I have an opinion about ethical business management. My boss is a scumbag in comparison to my own opinions. That does not make him a less effective manager or me any less responsible to him should I want to be paid or work for my firm. I also would not openly berate him (in an obvious public way, naming names) for his opinions or disrespect him to his face. If I know about his style prior to working for him, I'd not do it. If the situation is intolerable, I can always find another employer.

    This is not unlike the situation presented above. If you know you're not going to jive with a person ahead of time, be responsible and don't hassle yourself. If you find out after the fact, do the work, respect the person and get through what you need to get through, you'll always be able to drop by the drop date if it's truly intolerable.

    Don't miss the hidden lessons at school. They're the most valuable.
     

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