College to apologize to Bush for professor

[SlowSS]

Originally posted by: ScottyB
She didn't grade them on being liberal only gave extra credit for expressing liberal views on paper; I see no problem with what she did and hope she stays and gets a raise for her trouble.

Citrus College President Louis E. Zellers wrote that Professor Rosalyn Kahn "did abuse her authority"
in assigning students in her Speech 106 class to write letters to Bush protesting the possible war with Iraq.

"Students were clear in their understanding that they would only receive credit if they wrote 'protest' letters,
" Zellers said in a letter of thanks to FIRE -- the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education -- a Philadelphia-based campus watchdog group.

What part of "did abuse her authority" did you not understand?

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: ScottyB

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: ScottyB
She didn't grade them on being liberal only gave extra credit for expressing liberal views on paper; I see no problem with what she did and hope she stays and gets a raise for her trouble.

So much for higher eduction being about freedom of expression

I am sure you would be screaming if she gave extra credit for writing conservative papers.

No, I would say its her choice for extra credit and if political preference didn't change the core grade I wouldn't care.

But you are wrong here. Giving extra credit for only liberal or conservative writings effects peoples grades. I would not take part in such an assignment on principle alone.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero

Originally posted by: Tiger
Fire the bitch. It's an absolute abuse of power.

agreed. send her to Iraq.

 

[Tallgeese]

Originally posted by: ScottyB
You didn't answer my question Tallgeese.

I think any teacher who attempts to dictate what his/her students think and/or do through tactics as despicable as preferential grading needs to be called on the carpet about it, no matter whether I agree with that teacher's ideology or not.

My beliefs and ideas were questioned many times in college by professors in classroom settings.
My beliefs and ideas were also ridiculed at times.

The former is debate...which helps foster the learning process.
The latter is harassment...which totally destroys any type of reasonable or intelligent discourse.

I always kept that in mind when I then taught at the college level.

And, she WAS grading them on being "liberal" or "conservative." Offering credit for only one of those viewpoints means that the opposing viewpoint automatically gets a "0," which is a grade.

 

[ScottyB]

Originally posted by: Tallgeese

Originally posted by: ScottyB
You didn't answer my question Tallgeese.

I think any teacher who attempts to dictate what his/her students think and/or do through tactics as despicable as preferential grading needs to be called on the carpet about it, no matter whether I agree with that teacher's ideology or not.

My beliefs and ideas were questioned many times in college by professors in classroom settings.
My beliefs and ideas were also ridiculed at times.

The former is debate...which helps foster the learning process.
The latter is harassment...which totally destroys any type of reasonable or intelligent discourse.

I always kept that in mind when I then taught at the college level.

And, she WAS grading them on being "liberal" or "conservative." Offering credit for only one of those viewpoints means that the opposing viewpoint automatically gets a "0," which is a grade.

That's fine with me as long as you feel the same about both ways. 🙂

 

[Buffdaddy34]

take this woman and rip her apart for her anti-patriotism.

I bet when Bill Clinton was going to war she didn't say anything, but of course when Bush goes to war, they are anti-war, they are just anti bush, and man.... can't stand people who rip on our president like that.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Buffdaddy34
take this woman and rip her apart for her anti-patriotism.

I bet when Bill Clinton was going to war she didn't say anything, but of course when Bush goes to war, they are anti-war, they are just anti bush, and man.... can't stand people who rip on our president like that.

Buffoondaddy34, being Anti War doesn't make her un-Patriotic.

 

[PrinceofWands]

What about the teacher with the button that said "Bush isn't my president

Free speech. While I can't agree with the teacher giving extra credit to sway political views, there's absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a button expressing your views as long as you don't take up class time with any discussions stemming from it, unless of course they are subject related.

 

[bsobel]

and if she was a republican teacher and was giving extra credit for students sending letters to the military thanking them for what they do and not giving extra credit for students sending letters of disapproval would you want that teacher out?

Yes.

 

[Jmman]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

What about the teacher with the button that said "Bush isn't my president

Free speech. While I can't agree with the teacher giving extra credit to sway political views, there's absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a button expressing your views as long as you don't take up class time with any discussions stemming from it, unless of course they are subject related.

I don't believe this is a free speech issue. Under pressure they even admitted that it was probably a mistake......

"There is a fine line to be walked here," Kaufman said. "Teachers have a right to freedom of expression, but not when that expression disrupts the learning process" by forcing one viewpoint over another on the students.

The district and the teachers union -- the Jefferson County Education Association, an arm of the National Education Association -- said teachers "must be judicious in expressing their political opinions to avoid politicizing the classroom or disrupting the learning environment" and must provide a "neutral atmosphere."

 

[PrinceofWands]

I don't believe this is a free speech issue. Under pressure they even admitted that it was probably a mistake......

You mean the button or the extra credit? Because I said I didn't agree with the extra credit thing. If we're talking about the button then I'd like to know how the hell it's anything disruptive...especially compared to numerous other things done/worn in school.

 

[Jmman]

I was referring to the button. There are restictions placed upon teachers that override their constitutional free speech rights......the courts have upheld this several times.....

 

[PrinceofWands]

Ahhh...well, I think the courts are wrong. At a high school or lower lever I can see it, but at college, no way. I guess a case could be made between private and public colleges, but I find that splitting hairs. I understand others opinions differ, but that's how I feel. I certainly wouldn't have problems with a teacher wearing a 'pro bush' pin either...seems fine to me as long as it doesn't push aside the learning process (which hardly takes place any more anyway).

 

[KC5AV]

Heck, I'd simply send something to the effect of:

Mr. President:

This letter is being sent to protest the current state of affairs in Iraq. WHAT'S THE HOLD UP? We should have gone in there months ago.

Thank you for your time,

KC5AV

 

[Oakenfold]

Forget Firing her, just put her in part of some exchange professor program and ship her to Iraq.
I'm sure there would be some Iraq professor that would love to get the heck out of his or her country.

 

[xirtam]

If she gave credit for writing to the White House expressing their thoughts on the war, that would be one thing.

But getting her students to write her letter for her is quite another. Unless, of course, she took a poll and everyone was on her side on the matter.

Either way, it doesn't surprise me that the college is apologizing for her. She probably doesn't know how. She has to have students express her opinion, then she has to have her administrators apologize for her.

 

[StageLeft]

ScottyB you need to get a clue. Please don't make me explain why. Do you really really honestly truly need it spelled out for you? I'm just not going to bother.