Academic Freedom or Just Bad Taste
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/02/09/instructor-suspended-using-n-word-class?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8d9385c100-DNU20180111&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8d9385c100-198482621&mc_cid=8d9385c100&mc_eid=ab27a3f05f
Link here is to article about an instructor uttering the "n" word in class because he lets students bring songs to class to play and they sing along and this song had the racial slur. He is being disciplined.
1. I would question the policy of letting them bring songs to class to play in the first place. Is that of value to the class, or just pandering to the students?
2. An instructor must maintain control in a class. The students shouldn't be allowed to play songs with objectionable material.
3. The instructor should not sing along.
4. As to the word, well, I'm not going there. I made the error of using that word in my first novel as an example of racism, said by a black person who was making a point. It was problematic, so it came out in second edition. I am a free speech advocate but also an advocate of civility, so there's no reason for anyone to use it.
5. White faculty should just know better. I think this instructor showed bad judgment, but should not be fired for it, just told to change his teaching practices. Where I teach, we don't have carte blanche to do anything in class--we have to actually convey content and assess learning. I guess not every college has gotten that memo.
6. All that said, we have an egregious lack of due process any more in this country. Incredible.
Link here is to article about an instructor uttering the "n" word in class because he lets students bring songs to class to play and they sing along and this song had the racial slur. He is being disciplined.
1. I would question the policy of letting them bring songs to class to play in the first place. Is that of value to the class, or just pandering to the students?
2. An instructor must maintain control in a class. The students shouldn't be allowed to play songs with objectionable material.
3. The instructor should not sing along.
4. As to the word, well, I'm not going there. I made the error of using that word in my first novel as an example of racism, said by a black person who was making a point. It was problematic, so it came out in second edition. I am a free speech advocate but also an advocate of civility, so there's no reason for anyone to use it.
5. White faculty should just know better. I think this instructor showed bad judgment, but should not be fired for it, just told to change his teaching practices. Where I teach, we don't have carte blanche to do anything in class--we have to actually convey content and assess learning. I guess not every college has gotten that memo.
6. All that said, we have an egregious lack of due process any more in this country. Incredible.
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