The Politics of Education

Should the views expressed and taught on college campuses be balanced? It depends. Should the views expressed and taught on college campuses be legislated? No.

Although many do not want to admit it, anyone with half a brain can see that universities tend to be quite liberal and seem to shun conservative thinking. It is pretty much common knowledge. But what should be done about it? Fox News had an article on what some congressmen in Ohio are trying to do to keep the education system "balanced" and "fair." They are introducing a bill to ban political bias on universities.

"Students should be free to give their opinion without fear of retribution," said Ohio GOP State Sen. Larry Mumper.

According to Mumper, professors in the Buckeye State are discriminating against students who don't hold the same political views, and the bias is usually a liberal one. He points to a recent study by a Santa Clara University researcher that found Democrats outnumber Republicans eight to one among social science and humanities faculty as evidence of the left slant.

Well, that is the view from one side of the political spectrum. What is the other? hmmmmmm...

Opponents say the legislation amounts to unnecessary meddling.

"We shouldn't limit discussion, open debate, and limit our universities from having ... what I believe is a free market system of ideas," said Ohio Democratic State Sen. Teresa Fedor.

One side says that there is not an ability to discuss all opinions and views while the other says that there is a "free market system of ideas" with "open debate." Is the latter in denial and blind to the fact that people are not always allowed to express what they think? This bill sounds nice doesn't it? Universities would finally have to be "fair" in their dealings with their students, faculty, and the world at large and open debate would be a reality.

However, I do not completely agree with either side. What was that one thing in that one document? Oh yeah: Freedom of Speech. Also, it is not the government's job to meddle in the affairs of education and it is usually not a pretty sight when it does. While I agree that the slant that shows its ugly head in universities does not allow for a free exchange of ideas and beliefs, I do not think that bringing the government into the mix is the answer. What is the solution? I honestly do not know.