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[12111360]

David Horowitz is absolutely correct about the definition of indoctrination: it occurs when a viewpoint that is professionally contested within a particular discipline is taught by a professor as if it were established fact, when, in reality, it is merely the individual professor's preference or asumption of fact.

Mr. Horowitz is furthermore correct that preventing indoctrination is simple, in that the professor only has to state that his viewpoint is not considered to be the indisputable, absolute truth by all experts in the field. In fact, this ought to be one of the finest moments in teaching: the opportunity to explain the rationale for one's own solid beliefs, while at the same time inviting students to explore alternative theories that lead to well-supported findings of their own. Isn't that what education ought to be about?

However, I am fearful that the politicized contemporary ivory tower, and the AAUP for that matter, is too far gone to return to the basic premise of higher education: the encouragement of the ufettered search for truth. After all, in an environment where the notion that diversity equals excellence masquarades as fact, one might as well advance as undeniable that blond equals dumb, and being black equals lazy. Why not? When assumptions become fact, the possibilities for "new truths" become infinite, and the academy is on its way to become a theatre of the absurd. I am afraid it already has.

Dr. Sylvia Wasson
Professor of German
Santa Rosa Junior College
Member of the Board of Directors
California Association of Scholars  

[sad_goat]

Uh oh, now you did it.

Oh, and I agree with your statements. Up the revolution.

[daurousseau]

David Horowitz is absolutely correct about the definition of indoctrination: it occurs when a viewpoint that is professionally contested within a particular discipline is taught by a professor as if it were established fact, when, in reality, it is merely the individual professor's preference or asumption of fact.

I think you're elevating the level of discussion to a much higher plane than it merits or that Horowitz flies on.

Horowitz has nothing against indoctrination. Take economics. Ever hear him complain that economists teach as if markets were facts instead of constructs? Ever hear him denounce economics as pseudo-science or indoctrination? Ever hear him complain that economics only studies the realtion of value in capitalist economies?

[larryc]

My cat did the funniest thing today.

I installed one of those sliding retractable screens on the door between the kitchen and the patio.  They work like a roller blind, but sideways and made of screen.  Anyway, out little Playful (my son named her, isn't that cute?!!!) would press her little pink nose against the screen and meow sometimes. Meow! Meow! Meow! And sometimes she would forget the screen is there and walk or even run right into it.  Ka-pow! Watch out Playful! She would fall back and sit on her bottom in front of the screen, then after a moment bend her head down to lick her belly with her little pink tongue. Hey, as long as I'm here, right?

But that isn't the funny part. The funny part is how this morning I was making banana pancakes for my son and Playful was outside the screen door.  Now Playful just loves banaan pancakes. I know--isn't that the funniest thing? A cat who eats banana pancakes? LOL!

So anyway I hear this sound and I look and over and Playful has climbed right up the screen door! She is right at the top! How ever did she think of that?!! What a clever little orange kitten! She climbed to the tippity top and then squeezed through the opening and dropped down inside the door.  My son and I laughed and laughed.  And then you know what we did? We gave that clever little kitty a banana pancake!

Then David Horowitz came over and killed her.

[husqvarna]

You know LarryC, I hate when you do this sort of thing to me.

When I'm not the target of your brand of wit, however, I think your contributions can be priceless.

HOF'd.

[jonesey]

Google our new friend, the distinguished Professor of German, and see what you find.

She strikes me as rather similar to our friend who was fired in North Carolina.

Board's Hunt for Rumormonger on Campus Sets Off Furor on Privacy Rights

Also, this one is fairly interesting:

Several instructors targeted by student's posting of red stars, state code on teaching of communism

[medievalisttoo]

Larry: you owe me a computer screen.

But also: touché.

[daniel_von_flanagan]

Before its growth, Santa Rosa used to be one of my favorite cities.  The Hitchcock movie Shadow of a Doubt takes place there. In case you don't remember it, it is the one where the main character bravely confronts indoctrination by sneaking into the university in the dead of night and vandalizing doors with red-baiting graffiti. - DvF

[jonesey]

Before its growth, Santa Rosa used to be one of my favorite cities.  The Hitchcock movie Shadow of a Doubt takes place there. In case you don't remember it, it is the one where the main character bravely confronts indoctrination by sneaking into the university in the dead of night and vandalizing doors with red-baiting graffiti. - DvF

Nice.  That movie is one of my favorites, actually.  When I lived in California I used to go to Santa Rosa (and the beaches) quite a bit.

[oldfullprof]

Hey, and I got my bachelors about eight miles south of Santa Rosa.  I lived in Rodent Park, though.

[daniel_von_flanagan]

Hey, and I got my bachelors about eight miles south of Santa Rosa.  I lived in Rodent Park, though.

The vandal in this case was also from there, I believe. By the way, "Rohnert Park" is an anagram for "Her Prank: Rot". - DvF