Bias in the classroom?

Featured in The Appalachian (October 3, 2006) by MILLIE TOLLESON News Reporter A recent study published in “The Forum: A Journal of Applied Research in Contemporary Politics” reported 72 percent of professors at colleges in the United States consider themselves liberal, while 15 percent are conservative. The study was based on a survey of 1,643 faculty members at 183 American colleges and universities. These and other similar findings have fueled conservative students and organizations to introduce state legislation aiming to prevent any bias in the classroom. Groups such as Students for Academic Freedom argue the ratio fosters classroom environments not conducive to unbiased discussion. However, political science assistant professor Adam J. Newmark questions the methodology of these surveys. “Some surveys intentionally don’t survey chemistry departments, for example, or engineering or business schools,” Newmark said. “They may also select schools that are known to be a certain way. I doubt they are going to Bob Jones University or [Brigham Young University] and asking the same questions.” In response to students who feel their conservative views are stifled, SAF developed an Academic Bill of Rights, which was introduced to the U.S. Congress and at least 18 states, including North Carolina, in the past two years. This legislation, which only passed in Georgia and Pennsylvania, aims to ensure students are not intimidated because of their political beliefs. However, some professors view this legislation as an effort to regulate classroom settings for individual instructors. “This is an attempt by unqualified individuals to govern those of us who are trained to do this,” Newmark said. He believes every aspect of a course should be left up to the individual professor. Newmark welcomes feedback and comments from students on his courses, but also said lawmakers and students do not have the adequate training to administer the curriculum of college courses. Newmark said he applauds the North Carolina state legislative branch for defeating the legislation in 2005. “The legislation uses words like academic freedom, which sounds like a wonderful thing, but where is the protection for faculty?” Newmark said. “Setting guidelines for what we can and can’t do will inhibit the educational process.” Sociology professor Cindee W. Pratt said she has experienced a bias from students as well. “The coin has two sides.  Professors experience the same thing, particularly conservative professors. Liberal students tend to look down upon it as the non-educated opinion,” Pratt said. Newmark is concerned about recent claims of liberal professors assigning biased coursework and using politically biased grading systems. Newmark said he frequently has students who offer opinions in class and “do not use information from the text or substantiate their opinion at all.” “If I deduct points because [a student] doesn’t integrate classroom material, if that student has extreme views, they might blame me for deducting points due to differences in ideology or opinion,” Newmark said. “This is a pandora’s box you don’t want to open,” he said “With this issue, even giving a grade is a potential liability and that’s dangerous.” Although no legislation has passed, organizations like SAF have introduced the idea of balancing a university’s faculty based on political affiliation. Both Newmark and Pratt strongly oppose this, with Newmark calling it “ridiculous.” Pratt said she is always hesitant to label someone because definitions vary and some are negatively charged. “The minute I announce that I am conservative, that makes me pro-war?  Not necessarily,” Pratt said. “The day I sign a form saying my political affiliation to work at a university, I quit. I’ll go sell shoes.”