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Reader comment on article: Redeeming the Wayward University

Submitted by trans-parere (Canada), Nov 29, 2006 at 11:51

Students need to take responsibility for their education and practice discernment. Educators have always in my experience taught from a bias, going back to my early childhood schooling through armed forces training. While studying at college my 19th cent. Amer.lit. teacher consistently downgraded my essays. When I finally approached him about it he answered. "While taking this class you will reiterate my teaching on the subject. When or if you graduate, you may think as you please." I never did do well in his class. Then again I didn't take his message to heart and continued to answer in essay my opinion of what the writers were saying to me. I knew I would have to pay a price.

I was there at that college for their reputation for teaching science and 19th cent. Amer. lit. was to be honest, more a hobby. I wouldn't have chosen that college had I been seeking a major in eng. lit. I used the same method of investigating the reputation of the universities I wanted to attend to finish my education in the sciences.

I never had a science teacher say to me, "You will reiterate my teaching on the subject." I did have them say "These are the rules that we are aware of. If you discover a new rule that can be proved and applied, please let us know." I think having the general public influence the personnel or curriculum or politics of any given educational institution will create a false personna for that institution. One face for the general public that covers the multitude of public interests and another hidden face or a truer face behind the educators and the institution..
I much prefer institutional competition based on reputation.

Wadie Said or whom ever will have to establish a class or subject curriculum and that will be how that class and educator will be judged. Competing classes or curriculums and their teachers from other eductional institutions will be used to establish the value of both.
Middle East Studies. Who could teach that and not be accused of exibiting some bias one way or the other.

That's a hot bed of contention for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Is there a middle view that would mitigate said tension and prove an unbiased approach to the subject.

I'm not an advocate for tenure or unions where ever public money is provided. It's just too difficult to get rid of the dead wood with out making the people, taxpayers, pay even more.

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