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As a college instructor, I try to make the course materials interesting. I don't want to read out of the textbook. I want to have interesting discussions and case studies and role playing. I want to have a wide range of opinions intermixed with the facts.
This is getting harder and harder as America, especially college students becomes more politically correct. My fellow instructors are reporting that the students get upset with some of the most innocent comments and if the instructor or another student has an opinion or makes a statement that is just a bit controversial someone will get upset. And complain to the administration.
I understand that everyone has to watch what they say but being on needles and pins is just exhausting.
Anyone else agree that the trend towards political correctness is making teaching and classes boring and frustrating?
That's nothing new. The classroom has never been an appropriate place to let your political or religious views be known. What I am finding difficult is the conundrum of the current political situation - on the one hand, I like to keep my political views out of the professional sphere. On the other hand. I am loathe to be seen as Trump supporter, complicit or otherwise, because I think that would make my students think I am a white supremacist or maybe something worse, so I actually want them to know I don't support his farce of a presidency....but on the other hand, I don't want to offend anyone who might be a white supremacist or something and actually does support him. It's a catch 22.
That's nothing new. The classroom has never been an appropriate place to let your political or religious views be known. What I am finding difficult is the conundrum of the current political situation - on the one hand, I like to keep my political views out of the professional sphere. On the other hand. I am loathe to be seen as Trump supporter, complicit or otherwise, because I think that would make my students think I am a white supremacist or maybe something worse, so I actually want them to know I don't support his farce of a presidency....but on the other hand, I don't want to offend anyone who might be a white supremacist or something and actually does support him. It's a catch 22.
Except that maybe white supremacists ought to be offended.
That's nothing new. The classroom has never been an appropriate place to let your political or religious views be known. What I am finding difficult is the conundrum of the current political situation - on the one hand, I like to keep my political views out of the professional sphere. On the other hand. I am loathe to be seen as Trump supporter, complicit or otherwise, because I think that would make my students think I am a white supremacist or maybe something worse, so I actually want them to know I don't support his farce of a presidency....but on the other hand, I don't want to offend anyone who might be a white supremacist or something and actually does support him. It's a catch 22.
In my opinion, NEVER in my lifetime has it been so important for teachers not to discuss politics with their students. A simple "it isn't appropriate for me to discuss my personal political beliefs and I am too professional to cross that line" in a matter of fact tone generally ends the discussion.
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Except that maybe white supremacists ought to be offended.
It is not the teacher's job to do that. I would venture to say that white supremacists have impacted my life and career more than most people teaching today. I was a black teacher during the early/mid 70's in an area of Kentucky that had active clan chapters in several nearby counties. My job was to teach my students, regardless of their flaws. They loved their families, whatever their faults, and to renounce them or their families would have shut them down. I strived to be a living, breathing example of why they were totally wrong so that they would question those beliefs but under no circumstances would I have ever done something to purposefully offend them or demean them as humans. We do not better our students by sinking to low levels ourselves.
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It is not the teacher's job to do that. I would venture to say that white supremacists have impacted my life and career more than most people teaching today. I was a black teacher during the early/mid 70's in an area of Kentucky that had active clan chapters in several nearby counties. My job was to teach my students, regardless of their flaws. They loved their families, whatever their faults, and to renounce them or their families would have shut them down. I strived to be a living, breathing example of why they were totally wrong so that they would question those beliefs but under no circumstances would I have ever done something to purposefully offend them or demean them as humans. We do not better our students by sinking to low levels ourselves.
I differentiate the role of a teacher in elementary/middle/high school and university.
Further, there are ways of addressing the best in people without putting other people down.
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
-- Martin Niemöller.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke
Good posts here! I agree that I never tell my students my political beliefs. They are hear to learn, not know if I vote left or right. There are some faculty I work with and we basically know if we are on the same political beliefs. However, some teachers make it well known who they vote for. To each their own I guess but as I teacher I don't really want my students discussing political beliefs with me.
I differentiate the role of a teacher in elementary/middle/high school and university.
Further, there are ways of addressing the best in people without putting other people down.
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
-- Martin Niemöller.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke
At a university level do as you please, or as your institution allows you. I couldn't care less. Adults have control over their education and who educates them, children do not. They do not come to us from perfect homes, some of them come from homes that leave a lot to be desired, often with many things the family could be demonized over. When I first taught I had students and their parents who used an extremely unflattering moniker to my face. I explained why I didn't want to be called that, forbid the children from using the term after I explained why it was disrespectful to me, and spent a lot of time that year gently talking about mutual respect of your fellow human whenever the opportunity arose. What I did not do was vilify them, as temping as it was at times. Although it was anything but easy I saved my rants for home. By the end of my first year no one said those things, my students treated me respectfully, and most parents had turned both supportive and friendly. Your words implied that in the context of a classroom teacher that you thought it was actually desirable to offend white supremacists sitting in a classroom. It is not. Not anymore than it is any other belief system.
You want to speak out? Awesome, I agree those with a strong voice should speak for those whose voices have been squashed. I am even fine with insulting them if you are prepared to face the consequences. Just don't do it at a public school when you are an employee of that school. We are expected to meet our students where they are, that includes those whose family or belief systems make you want to cringe. It is easy to preach equality, religious freedom, mutual respect, and tolerance, it is difficult to truly practice it.
By the way, there is no phrase that grates my nerves as much as "I am intolerant of intolerance" smuggly pronounced when discussing some group found morally lacking by the speaker. No. That person needs to stop after the words "I am intolerant," because that's what they are.
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When I post in bold red that is moderator action and, per the TOS, can only be discussed through Direct Message.
We are expected to meet our students where they are, that includes those whose family or belief systems make you want to cringe. It is easy to preach equality, religious freedom, mutual respect, and tolerance, it is difficult to truly practice it.
By the way, there is no phrase that grates my nerves as much as "I am intolerant of intolerance" smuggly pronounced when discussing some group found morally lacking by the speaker. No. That person needs to stop after the words "I am intolerant," because that's what they are.
This. It's bad to teach students to dehumanize and demonize anyone (to beat up a straw man) – our goal should be to be foster greater empathy and understanding – learning to express our arguments and feelings maturely and clearly.
As a college instructor, it is hard to keep the discussion to only facts and not throw out some general ideas and opinions if you want to make the class interesting. But once we start throwing about opinions about anything, someone gets mad and feels harrassed.
As a college instructor, it is hard to keep the discussion to only facts and not throw out some general ideas and opinions if you want to make the class interesting. But once we start throwing about opinions about anything, someone gets mad and feels harrassed.
I agree! It does make it interesting. That's the serious problem with certain classes, is the fact is that student's think all things should be "interesting and fun". Unfortunately it makes us look bad at times if we stick straight to the facts but I say "so what" if they don't think things are interesting. I tell them in the real world things aren't always fun. They sign up for my class to learn. If you have students who aren't on your side politically all kinds of things can happen. When I was in college, a political science professor used to spend half the class discussing his political viewpoints and why so many people at the time in office were screwed up. None of this material was on the exam and I showed up to class everyday at 8:00am on time to hear political rants for the first half of the class. I respect peoples viewpoints but I've learned it can cause division and lack of respect. Me and another student finally reported him to the Dean because half his class was spent ranting on why our government is messed up and the other half was basically material that we had to learn that was blown through very quickly because there wasn't enough time. We found questions on the exam that this professor never covered because he basically brushed through the material so quick. This professor made his exams quite challenging. If a professor is going to go free rain and talk about his/her political beliefs then at least make the exams easy. He changed after we reported him. When students pay for a class (I teach both high school and college) they are here to learn facts, not hear us bash about the left or right party or what I think would be best for the country. I tell my student's they can visit me after class in office hours if they want to know more about my opinions.
Last edited by Educator1982; 06-13-2017 at 01:37 AM..
Reason: addition of sentence
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