You’re sitting in your introductory political science class, and right in the middle of lecture your professor says something radical, something so out of the ordinary that it makes you uncomfortable. Is this okay? Do teachers have the right to share their radical opinions in a classroom setting? Is all our tuition money simply going to radical professors sharing their own opinions?
At the beginning of April at the University of Southern California, an undergraduate majoring in political science was faced with the same series of questions.
The class was taught by Darry Sragow, a USC political science professor who is nationally recognized for his radical views against Republicans. Sragow expressed his bias to an undergraduate political science class in the fall of 2012. Sragow characterized Republicans as old white racists who are “losers.”
A video of the lecture immediately went viral and sparked a variety of responses, including one from Elizabeth Garrett, USC’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
“Statements made by our faculty members are not endorsed by the University; indeed, we sometimes profoundly disagree with the statements,” Garrett wrote in a release. “Nevertheless, we firmly protect their right to express those views.”
However, the idea that teachers have a freedom of speech in their classroom is not one exclusive to USC. The University of Oregon promotes a similar standard for what teachers can and cannot say.
“The University of Oregon encourages students and faculty to share their thoughts and opinions both in and out of the classroom setting. The free exchange of ideas is the cornerstone on which higher education is built,” said Phil Weiler, assistant vice president for strategic communications.
Many times teachers share their personal beliefs in class, some having conservative views and while others are liberal. Often these views are expressed along with the opposing counterpart, explaining that they have their own belief, but there are multiple belief systems and that neither is right or wrong. Sometimes teachers may include a personal opinion in lecture. This material is still factual but is not all inclusive and instead focuses on one side of the spectrum.
“Democrats and Republicans may disagree on basic issues but we all want America to be a better place,” said MacGregor Ehlen, vice chair of College Republicans. “We just have different ideas on how to make that happen. My favorite teachers are those who can respect the other side and show that they understand their point of view.”
It is also common belief that there is a liberal bias in academia in general, especially at liberal arts schools. This influences students to question what their teachers say and the validity of the information they are learning, which provides an atmosphere for thoughtful and open dialogue.
“There is no way to be objective. Education involves both being objective and subjective,” said Charles Hunt, senior instructor of the sociology department. “Everything we say is fact, we can’t invent them. I say what I think is important and students can take it for what they want.”
Students are constantly exposed to bias and are forced to sift through personal beliefs to determine what is and is not true. The idea however is as Hunt says, “Everything is fact.” Whether teachers claim a bias or not, their job is to teach students what they know about their field. Furthermore, it is the students right to question their beliefs and be able to formulate their own allowing them to leave higher education with a well-rounded and experienced knowledge base.