Academic Freedom Bill of Rights: or, Doesn't Everyone Love Orwellian Language?

[Zkribbler]

According to a legislative staff analysis of the bill, the law would give students who think their beliefs are not being respected legal standing to sue professors and universities.

Hmm. I wonder if I'll be able to sue because of the constant ridicule of my 0.01% American Native heritage because of that stupid Seminole chant.

Hey, I believe I'm the center of the universe! What?? They don't?!? Ring up another lawsuit, Jocko. K'ching.

[Agathon]

I don't know about neutral. I make my disdain for racism and bigotry pretty evident.

So shoot me.

[Whaleboy]

In my opinion and experience it's just the opposite. I don't think that any of my professors have been neutral. Even in business classes they express their opinions.

To clarify, there is a difference between expressing an opinion and teaching it. Economics is a tough one because contained within is a line between science and politics, so something that has been scientifically proven may seem to some a political opinion. The key thing here is a class in which the students opinion is given equal credence, providing it's a subjective field to any other.

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by Kidicious


Professors don't decide what the truth is for anyone else but themselves. That's for the student to decide for themselves.

If I'm not wrong, then I objected against religious people had the right answer - actually I think it is a sign of intelligence if the student questions what the teacher tells as long as the student isn't biased by religous beliefs.

[Whaleboy]

I don't know about neutral. I make my disdain for racism and bigotry pretty evident.

Well fair enough... a classroom doesn't have statutory free speech because the teacher is trying to achieve something... a good teacher will allow free opinions as long as it works to that given end no?

[Agathon]

I expressed my hatred for Kenny G and reality television in today's lecture. I also discovered that only two of the students in the class hate rap music enough to wish it were banned.

No one wanted Kenny G banned. I pretended to cry.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Whaleboy
To clarify, there is a difference between expressing an opinion and teaching it. Economics is a tough one because contained within is a line between science and politics, so something that has been scientifically proven may seem to some a political opinion. The key thing here is a class in which the students opinion is given equal credence, providing it's a subjective field to any other.

First, nothing is scientifically proven in economics. Second, students can tell if a professor is going to judge them unfairly or not. Such professors don't illicit opinions from their students.

Take Agathon's bold student. Do you think he's worried about Agathon marking him for his different opinion? That student wouldn't speak up if he didn't trust Aggy.

[Whaleboy]

Kenny G

I think his sax is haunted by the ghost of Axl Rose. The fact that said person is still (somehow) alive speaks volumes about Kenny G's ability to raise the dead by those horrific noises he makes.

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by Agathon
I don't know about neutral. I make my disdain for racism and bigotry pretty evident.

So shoot me.

Thats the problem with this law - if one of your students think that racism and bigotry are ok, then they can sue you..

Hope you escaped the shooting

[Whaleboy]

First, nothing is scientifically proven in economics. Second, students can tell if a professor is going to judge them unfairly or not. Such professors don't illicit opinions from their students.

Entropy?

The second bit makes no sense.

Take Agathon's bold student. Do you think he's worried about Agathon marking him for his different opinion? That student wouldn't speak up if he didn't trust Aggy.

Bull****. How many people answer back like they know better to people on this forum even though they're novices to relative experts? Trust doesn't come into it, which is as far as I'm going to say about a situation that I do not know... Ag's in a better position to comment than I.

[Agathon]

Take Agathon's bold student. Do you think he's worried about Agathon marking him for his different opinion? That student wouldn't speak up if he didn't trust Aggy.

A quick look tells me he's done OK so far and I gave him an extension on his first assignment. So he better be nice!!!

Thats the problem with this law - if one of your students think that racism and bigotry are ok, then they can sue you..

Great....

I think his sax is haunted by the ghost of Axl Rose. The fact that said person is still (somehow) alive speaks volumes about Kenny G's ability to raise the dead by those horrific noises he makes.

One of the students loves him and we make fun of her.

It's a fun class. We were discussing the benefits of paternalism and my experience as a teenager wanting to get an Ozzy Osbourne (I think it was him) tattoo and being told no by my mother.

The students thought that was funny, but it made me feel sad and old.

[Sava]

you are sad and old

[Agathon]

[Agathon]

What is sad is that most of these people were about 4 years old when Nevermind came out. So my pop culture references come off as really lame.

Jesus....

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Whaleboy
Entropy?

What exactly do you mean?

Bull****. How many people answer back like they know better to people on this forum even though they're novices to relative experts? Trust doesn't come into it, which is as far as I'm going to say about a situation that I do not know... Ag's in a better position to comment than I.

When you are a student who is learning the subject of course you have to trust the professor as well as the other students if you are going to ask questions or voice your opinion. It's completely different here at Poly because it's not a learning environment.

Most students would just as well go through the whole course without saying a word, but there are also students who enjoy having a professor that offers his or her opinion, and who can even be challenged on it by a novice. It's good for the student.