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[spork]

Can we get a free link to all of Katharine Mangan's article about Texas?

I just finished Academically Adrift, and the authors of that book point out that there are lots of systemic incentives against effective teaching. An emphasis on research and publication is one of them. I'm wondering if this is under debate in Texas, or if it's just another "those lazy ass left-wing eggheads are being paid too much" campaign.

[Free link added above. -moderator]

[lost_angeleno]

The point of this debate, from the teabagging Republikkklan perspective, is to generate graduates who are clever in their area of education, and thus capable of making money for their corporate masters, but NOT creative and critical thinkers.  Why?  Because creative and critical thinking are skills that could be applied to the lies the neo-fascist ruling class purveys across the state.  Well-educated students would question authorities and their lies, and run them out of office.  Texas is run by the oil cartel, and its allied businesses in banking and finance, real estate development, utilities. Naturally, they don't want to give up their power to anyone.  Who in their position would?  So, they have worked over the decades to suppress freethinkers, and that includes doing things like approving textbooks full of idiocy and lies in primary and secondary schools, and developing a docile, technically-focused faculty in higher education.  Heck, they're just trying to survive, any way they can. If that means suppressing cutting-edge thinking (research) in favor of pre-digested, vocational-based classes (repetitive teaching), that's great. For them.

[concordancia]

You have to be a full time researcher just to keep up. I am reading an article now that claims that the Texas Higher Ed solutions haven't made their way to campus, but HB 2504, looks an awful lot like them, as do some of the going on at A&M.

[sciencegrad]

I would like to read this article myself.  If lost-angeleno's summary is accurate, despite the bias, I wouldn't be surprised.  The brief free portion of this article is something that prompted me to write a blog entry, but I would still like to follow the issue in Texas a little more closely.

[antiphon1]

If you're interested, this article gives a pretty good summary of the most recent goings on in Texas higher education. 

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2012-presidential-election/parsing-the-history-of-perrys-higher-ed-battles/

[sciencegrad]

If you're interested, this article gives a pretty good summary of the most recent goings on in Texas higher education. 

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2012-presidential-election/parsing-the-history-of-perrys-higher-ed-battles/

Thanks!  It sounds like one of the biggest issues right now is trying to quantify professor productivity.  I don't think that it's easy (it may even be nearly impossible) to quantify something like that.  I didn't realize that Perry was likely pushing these changes so that he wouldn't be held accountable for high tuition.

[antiphon1]

If you're interested, this article gives a pretty good summary of the most recent goings on in Texas higher education. 

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2012-presidential-election/parsing-the-history-of-perrys-higher-ed-battles/

Thanks!  It sounds like one of the biggest issues right now is trying to quantify professor productivity.  I don't think that it's easy (it may even be nearly impossible) to quantify something like that.  I didn't realize that Perry was likely pushing these changes so that he wouldn't be held accountable for high tuition.

The productivity measures and curriculum accountability standards are foils for reduced state funding.  Perry hasn't a leg to stand on, so to speak, on rising tuition since he ramrodded tuition deregulation in 2003.  In answer to your question, it's politics.  Perry looks like he's running for president.  He'll roll out a low tax, budget cutting, immigration and education reform agenda based on his accomplishments in Texas.  It's a sham.  I'm looking forward to his run.  It's gonna be fun watching some of the left leaning press take him to the woodshed.   

[sciencegrad]

Yeah no kidding.  It will be nice if they can get someone else in the governor's office, if at least to be able to balance out the current regents, who seem to be eating out of the palm of his hand. 

[antiphon1]

Yeah no kidding.  It will be nice if they can get someone else in the governor's office, if at least to be able to balance out the current regents, who seem to be eating out of the palm of his hand. 

It's debatable whether the regents are scratching the gov's back or vice versa. 

[sciencegrad]

Yeah no kidding.  It will be nice if they can get someone else in the governor's office, if at least to be able to balance out the current regents, who seem to be eating out of the palm of his hand. 

It's debatable whether the regents are scratching the gov's back or vice versa. 

True.  It seems like they are willing to not do everything he asks for.  Plus, they are probably great allies for campaign fundraising.

[lost_angeleno]

My post is not biased if what it says is valid.  It is.  It comes from decades, decades of following Texas politics, including working with legislators in Austin, interviewing some of the power players over the years, and listening to knowledgeable, experienced students of the workings of Texas politics.  My rhetoric may be a bit strong, . . . or it may not.  Its major fault is in being rather general, but this is a blog, not a refereed journal.

[antiphon1]

My post is not biased if what it says is valid.  It is.  It comes from decades, decades of following Texas politics, including working with legislators in Austin, interviewing some of the power players over the years, and listening to knowledgeable, experienced students of the workings of Texas politics.  My rhetoric may be a bit strong, . . . or it may not.  Its major fault is in being rather general, but this is a blog, not a refereed journal.

Are you responding to a PM? 

[lost_angeleno]

There's a Prime Minister on this board?  Can't be British; they're busy getting hacked off.

[antiphon1]

Fair enough.  Were you responding to the comments up thread or a personal message? 

[larryc]

"The proposals, which are based on the premise that professors spend too much time on esoteric research and not enough time in the classroom, would separate teaching and research budgets, give professors pay raises based on student evaluations, and treat students as customers."

Argh! Ah well, if that is the game, Texas forumites should milk it for all it is worth. Grades for cash--and the students don't even have to pay the cash directly.

Republikkklan

Don't do that.