Imagine that you are a college student waiting for your English Composition course to begin. You are chatting with your classmates about a new movie or the outcome of last night’s football game. Perhaps you are anxious because you haven’t read the material for today. Perhaps your crush a few rows up gave you a smile.
Suddenly, the instructor briskly walks into the classroom, visibly annoyed, throws their books onto the front podium, rubs their eyes and ruffles their hair, before giving an exasperated and weary: “Trump” or “Republicans” or “Fox News.”
Now, in all fairness, this is not the experience of every college student (although it was quite common during the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections). And, the instructor could just as easily have given an exasperated “Biden” or “Democrats” or “CNN,” and the result would have been the same.
That teacher has communicated to their students, not only how they individually feel about politics, but how the students should feel. Explicitly or implicitly, regardless how any dissenting opinion may be framed, the message is that students will be met with frustration and disdain for their political beliefs.
To be clear: the role of a teacher is not to merely convey information, they are also responsible for setting the tone of a classroom.
Inevitably students will pick up on that tone and respond to their fellow students accordingly. If it is a tone of respect? Students can disagree in a safe and productive space. If that tone is like the scenario above? Be prepared for disrespect and, potentially, bullying.
We The People has previously discussed how the American university became politically homogeneous. It is sadly the truth that our nation’s greatest thinkers have “sold out” for the financial security of tenure. And, in all honesty, it would perhaps be merely unfortunate if it stopped there. But it doesn’t.
Unions like the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association are powerful political entities, who not only dictate what is considered politically “correct” for their members, but also raise thousands of dollars for progressive political candidates. While these organizations do not represent all teachers, there is enough evidence to show that they can and will influence how their members behave, which then trickles down to the students.
We The People dare to ask: If unions dictate a “correct” political ideology and teachers set an aggressive tone against dissenting opinions, has education become simply towing the party line?
This is the dictionary definition of indoctrination.
We The People believes that this isn’t simply a matter of protecting free speech. The danger to our universities is very real, and we must now protect a pillar of our society from itself. Our previous post about freedom of speech on college campuses ended with hope. And hope there is. Students are fighting and they are winning. We ask that you will link arms with us and these brave students.
Consider donating today, so we can keep fighting for free speech on college campuses and defending our constitutional rights wherever they are threatened.