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Do you think it is good when a History teacher puts their spin on history? I suppose that could go either way, for the good or the bad. For me I just want to know who,what, where, when, why and how. Giving me your opinion on history in a discussion is fine, but when you are teaching shouldnt you just stick with the facts?
I suppose that depends….is it a spin I like or dislike? 🙂 I do think that it's a shame when teachers have an agenda at a public school and so attempt to promote that agenda with the support of history. There are plenty of areas of history that don't need any psychoanalyzing to assign blame or link it to today's world. And we don't really need modern-day academics to be the judge of mankind in the past. Too often we hear modern day types judging groups in the past….curiously enough they seem to blame a particular group or side if it has continuing influence in today's world. It's so easy to assign blame to historical peoples or eras while sitting in your leather armchair drinking your coffee in 2006.
No. I got into two very heated arguments with two of my professors in front of the entire class because they were trying to foist some garbage on the class. Both were extremely liberal professors who had personal agendas. Of course I found out they have copyright ownership to the materials taught in their classes. So at the college level they do have freedom to do it, but it is really frustrating to me when they do. Grade school history teachers have no business doing it period. First of all, they are not scholars so they are not qualified to offer highbrow opinions as fact. Second, their level of study does not merit it since their students haven't grasped the basics yet. Lastly, what they should be focusing in on is critical thinking skills, writing proficiency, and reading comprehension. If History is taught properly, then students will be able to draw their own conclusions with well reasoned thought.
What do you mean about professors owning copyright ownership of their classes? How did this thwart you?
What do you mean about professors owning copyright ownership of their classes? How did this thwart you?
Basically at the University of Louisville, the School of Arts and Sciences allows faculty to teach their classes anyway they see fit. So long as the professor is ethical and designs his or her class around the minimum requirements such as writing components and so forth, they can expose students to whatever material they choose. I was informed that I could not go to the Academic Ombudsman or the Dean because a professor was teaching off the wall BS. I was told I needed to research the faculty better before signing up for their classes. Consequently, the Department Chair (and my mentor) told me that he was aware of the problem with one professor in particular and had previously dealt with complaints on that person. Nevertheless, that professor had tenure and was practically impervious to criticism at that point.
It seems than, if one can get the ground work laid on how to learn, think and discern, then he might be better off teaching himself history, at least at the college level.
It seems than, if one can get the ground work laid on how to learn, think and discern, then he might be better off teaching himself history, at least at the college level.
You are exactly right. Professors are good for guidance and advice, but they should not impose their opinions or their vision of History on anyone. College is not for that.
I suggest when professors teach a radical agenda and you can do nothing about it via the normal university ways that you use the media to expose such deeds. This may be the only way to bring needed pressure onto them.
The sad thing is, is its not just history thats happening with. We should allow people to learn first and then form their opinions, its only fair. I believe we take something very precious away from an individual when someone teaches with opinions rather then fact and they don't allow them to meditate on what they have learned and come to their own conclusions.Phid, in many cases though the univerities themselves support the views and actions of these people and are not willing to do anything about it. And many in the media went to these schools and had their ideas shaped by them. Look at Donnies experiance. He tried, nothing happened.
I had to agree with my University's policy though because it protects the other professors who think more like I do. So if the Lefty's are allowed to do their thing, at least the Conservatives can hold serve.
I'm just saying that exposing their actions in the media can be a way to bring unwanted focus on their actions. Then, alumni (who I imagine become more conservative as they get older) will stand less for it and can put the heat on the university to investigate their actions. They recently had a Hannity and Colms special on "Nutty Professors" which was dedicated to past shows they've done on college profs and high school teachers who teach their own agendas....quite radical at times. Does it do anything directly to stop the teachers? No, but it can do things indirectly. I'm not saying that Donnie necessarily should have done this; rather, it's one way of dealing with the situation when it becomes an extreme.
It would seem at least on the high school level that parents themselves could get involved when radical agenda's are being forced on kids who arnt even adults yet.
Then you run the danger of parents trying to force their agenda on the teachers. So the reverse would be true in this case. It's hard to maintain objective balance in the class room.
I found this site:http://noindoctrination.org/Looks like students have a place to "report" their professors when they "indoctrinate" the classroom with an agenda. I'll have to look through it some more...
