College professors taking sides in class

[wildflyin69]

I don't know if this has been happening to anyone else, but being an english major in my school who totally supports our military and government puts me into a very small minority in the English department. I'm an English major because I enjoy books and history, but apparrently you need to be anti-military and anti-Bush to truly be accepted. Well anyway, my teacher turned our class listserv, which is usually used to convey material for the class, into an anti-war propaganda vessel. As it turns out he is one of the leading protesters in this area and is using his classes to recruit people to his cause. Now, I don't have a problem with people with other views, but when he mangages to have a class of 35 people turn against me and two other people who share the same views, I don't think it's cool. Has this happened to any of you guys who are still in school?

"Push the stick foward, the houses get bigger; pull back, the houses get smaller... unless you keep pulling back, then they get bigger again."

 

[jaerose]

If they're doing something that makes you uncomfortable, you should bring it up in a meeting with the dean...especially if the professor is singling you out in classes and tearing you down. That's what I would do. I had a similar situation my freshman year, but it was a religious thing. My philosophy prof. asked us if we believed in God the first day and we all had to answer...the four students that said we definitely did (she's atheist) were the only four who didn't get A's in the course. I didn't know better then, but I would have made a huge issue out of it to the Administration. Definitely bring it up. Worst case is that they can't do anything, but at least you can give the prof. some sh*t like the Commie deserves!

JR

God Bless Bush, Our Troops and America!

 

[esday1]

It seems like the real issue here is that the professor seems to view his job as to spread propaganda and make sure his students have the "correct" views, rather than to teach people or encourage them to think. It's not so much the professor's views as the way he uses the class to express them. I had one class about China where my TA was pretty open about being a flaming Marxist- but the class wound up being pretty good since the guy didn't force his views on people, and he still gave me a decent grade even though my term paper was about the growing Chinese naval threat.

However, another much more serious example of the kind of thing you were talking about happens at my sister's school, Evergreen State College in WA. A couple of weeks ago a student there (who was taking time off) got killed standing in front of an Israeli bulldozer as a "human shield" for Palestinian terrorists. Apparently a bunch of professors at her school were using their classes to recruit college students to do that sort of thing.

"Peace on earth to men of goodwill. All others stand by."

 

[Crowbar]

I'm all about you letting the teacher know that you don't agree with what he's doing. Hell, he's using his freedom of speech, why not use yours? I don't know your background, so don't think I'm being a dick, but just remember, if you are a "good" student and you approach this...teacher...he is more likely to listen to what you have to say. If you are a "bad" student-complain a lot, miss class, screw off in class-he may just think of it as one more thing somebody has a bug up their ass about.

So keep that in mind when you talk to him. If he gaffs you off, file an official grievance with the English department and/or University. If you have an NROTC Unit at school, let your MOI or your Lt's know about what is going on.

I have an English teacher (coincidence?) from...England. She is also a pacifist. For the longest time all she did was bag on our government and talk about how America needs to worry more about murders and drunk drivers than terrorists. Then when the war started, suddenly her well of propaganda dried up. Luckily for me, being in Alabama, not too many people sided with her. And just so you know, it was just this week that she found out that I'm a Marine and when she did...she apologized for everything she said! All I could think was, "If you're sorry you said it now that you know what I do, why did you say it to begin with?"

Be courteous, be tactful, be respectful, but don't let them crap on ya. Good luck!

 

[wildflyin69]

One of the people who sides with me in my class is a retired Marine. Cool guy, he takes it quite personal when my teacher goes off on these tirades, and with all he's seen and been through, I can't blame him. Thanks for all your info and support guys!

"Push the stick foward, the houses get bigger; pull back, the houses get smaller... unless you keep pulling back, then they get bigger again."

 

[kevin]

i understand the crap you go through with this, and how frustrating it is. i absolutely support people's right to opinions, but unfortunately most people equate their opinions with facts (including me sometimes). i think the advice you got from the responses here is good...confront the problem. some of the anti war protestors (the ones who arent there for the cameras and party) have decent points, but when they say "we still support our troops" i believe it's just lip service...how are you really supporting them? and i'm still confused as to why pacifists define peace as they do. st thomas (?) said something like "peace is not the abscence of conflict, but rather the ability to cope with it and the presence of justice." so in the real sense of the word peace, i'm all for world peace, too.

 

[AndysGirl]

I had a similar experience in my German class of all places! This was before the war even started. She allowed an anti-war student to come into class and share their views. Now that didn't bother me with the whole free speech thing. What did bother me was that she didn't announce the "guest speaker" didn't let us know what it was about or give us a chance to leave the class, since it was technically during class time. She didn't have a pro-war student come in and voice their views or anything. I was livid! Since she left the classroom during the speech, she can't be considered as sponsering the "guest speaker". I wish I had gone to the head of the department and complained! It was a language class, not a poli sci or whatever, definately not the place for propaganda. I did lay into her on the teacher evals. All I got to say is if you are going to do something like this, you should present both sides to the arguement!

Go Navy

 

[jaerose]

Yeah, many profs. seem to interpret Liberal Arts to mean that they can push their radical left-wing propaganda to students and punish the students that disagree...not all, but more than should. I transferred from DePauw University for that reason...all but three professors I had in 2 years were atheistic, or something similar, and every one of them pushed their personal opinion as God's truth in their classes and if a student disagreed, then their grades showed it.

And the kicker, DePauw U. allows professors to make 'discretionary' changes to students' grades, which is just wrong. Anyway, I liked my friends there, but absolutely hated...yes, strong word, but true...hated the school. Now I'm at the University of Indianapolis, a very similar school academically, and I haven't seen this type of problem. I even took a Religion class with a professor who was very left-wing (I'm a bit right-wing if you can't tell) and my opinions were basically the opposite of hers, but I earned an 'A' on all my papers and exams, even though in my papers my viewpoints were polar to hers...she graded my writing, evidence and supporting argument objectively, which was a nice change from DPU. Alright, I'll shut up now...just an experience I thought I'd share.

JR