Junto Boys

ACADEMIC FREEDOM DOES EXIST (so far)

Well, well, I'm into my first semester and given out my first set of exams. So far academic freedom does exist. We got a good talking to on Friday from the Chair of the department. He re-advowed his commitment to Academic Freedom. (He didn't expand onto why he was bringing up the subject, but I guess that some Prof. must have asked or felt insecure). He explained that Academic Freedom meant the professors have the right to teach their classes however they see fit and say anything in class; even "controversial" statements. Of course he didn't elaborate on what that meant. Mostly I've found "controversial" means that you simply say the most extreme left wing thing you can and wait for gasps. Unfortunately, the gasps seldom come anymore since everyone expects the left-wing thing to be said by any given prof. What I've found thus far from the professors point of view is that this is a whole lot of fun. It is great to educate a new generation on the subjects I hold dear. My Cross-Cultural class has turned out to be my favorite mostly because there is so much leeway to include politics in the class since most of the subject matter lends itself to political discourse. However, some of the students have caught on to my right leaning, libertarian stances. The more savvy students are waiting for a derogatory remark about the Dems or Clinton or such and then are leaping forward. I confronted one in class recently and made her prove her point. (I had made a rather neutral comment about Bill Clinton being long winded in his speeches---a valid point as Bill made the infamous 2 hour speech at the Dem Con many years ago). Before I could finish my point, she had lept and stated, "Well at least he can finish his sentences, at least he could speak in coherent thoughts, etc" I stopped and said, "Oh really? Could you give us an example? Whom do you refer?" on and on I went. I hated to exert my power thusly, since I had been similar to the student in my youth and could not always defend myself, but perhaps that is part of the whole learning process anyway. And secondly, that student is sort of nuts.

I haven't gotten fired yet and thus far the school has completely left me alone. No one has questioned my book selections (one book is a Heritage Foundation selection) and no one has questioned my methods...at least to my face. Most students seem to express gratitude (much as I did when I found the lone conservative professor) and ask what class will I be teaching next. On one sad note, I've been told through the grapevine that they are going to try and steer me away from "diversity" classes like Cross Cultural and instead give me more pure science classes like Perception/Learning and Abnormal Psych to teach. Maybe I'm not teaching the Cross-Cultural class the "right way." That is sad because it kind of goes against what the Chair had to say. I'm sure that if I confronted them I'd get denial and accalaids for my scientific mind that is sorely needed. Blah, blah. I've asked to teach the Psychology of Women next, THAT is one I'm REALLY looking forward to! But we'll see. More adventures in Academia to come...