College, at its most basic level, is about learning through the exchange of different ideas and beliefs. While every student has the right to express his or her opinion in a classroom setting, however, the question of whether a professor should be allowed the same degree of expressive freedom begets no simple answer.
A classroom is meant to be a learning environment, and in order to learn, a student must be able to voice an opinion and learn to understand those of others. The main problem with a professor — a figure of authority — openly expressing his or her — usually liberal — views on subjects like politics in a classroom setting is that some students might mistake opinion for fact, thus compromising their learning experience.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions and professors are no exception to this rule. Furthermore, it is pretty safe to assume that a college student has, at some point, learned the difference between something that is a fact and something that is an opinion. A professor introducing his or her opinion into a class discussion to help drive it along or to provoke some thought among students does not disrupt the learning environment, but rather works to enrich it.
The problem, however, is that if professors let their views on issues pertinent to the class be known in an inappropriate manner, they could potentially stifle discussion by causing students to become uncomfortable with expressing their own opposing views. Everything, from stating debatable theories as fact to adorning their office doors with politically explicit bumper stickers and projecting a dismissive attitude when discussing alternative views, can have this chilling effect.
A class discussion is significantly more enriching if students are willing to share and defend viewpoints that diverge from those held by the majority of their classmates. Professors have a responsibility to ensure that their students feel that they are able and encouraged to do this.
Some students can be fearful of reprisal, in the form of a professor either shooting them down in the discussion or lowering their grades, if they let their true views be known, no matter how factually grounded the views are. As reported in today's Daily, one student felt the need to drop a class because he believed that the professor's liberal opinions and beliefs completely overshadowed the course material.
Even something as simple as a joke can alienate students in a class. If a professor lampoons former President George W. Bush for a few cheap laughs, a student who disagrees might feel obliged to chuckle along with the class rather than voice disagreement. This sort of behavior can often alienate conservative students who are led to believe that they stand apart from both the professor and their classmates due to their political views.
Professors are human beings with their own thoughts and beliefs. As long as a professor is careful about the way and the context in which he or she presents opinions, such a move will generally enhance the learning experience of students. These are individuals who have studied a plethora of material and possess a substantial bank of knowledge — their opinions should be valued. Hence, to exile them from the classroom would be unwarranted. Expecting an educated professor to conceal his or her beliefs at all times is both unrealistic and unwanted. Professors must ensure, however, that they express their views in a manner that encourages students to share their own, thus living up to their mandate to foster an intellectually stimulating environment at this university.
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