Liberal Bias in the Classroom: A Myth?

On Wednesday, Sept. 17, as part of Constitution Week, award-winning journalist Randall Savage spoke of possible liberal bias in the classroom and asked students’ opinions.

The topic has been discussed on many news outlets, including CNN and Fox News Channel. The University System of Georgia saw the studies and found some statistics of their own.

The University System of Georgia conducted a survey in April 2008. According to their web page, the survey was aimed at finding out individual attitudes on free speech and discussion. Also conducted was information on partisanship as well as political and religious views. The findings were presented in August to the Board of Regents.

Almost 85 percent of survey respondents rated their overall academic experience at the University System of Georgia as excellent or good. In the terms of classroom environments, the survey found a varied range of opinions in regard to the role professors have in challenging existing beliefs and views.

On the subject of free speech, only 13 percent of the students surveyed agreed that professors had inappropriately presented their own views and only 4 percent of their religious beliefs.

In the two cases, students holding the above viewpoints also made mention that 62 percent of them felt the freedom to argue with their professors in terms of political disagreements.

GCSU students primarily echoed the findings of the University System of Georgia.

Blake Schoening, a senior marketing major, believed there was not a significant bias in any of his classes.

“My teachers have all challenged me to think. I like it because even if I don’t agree with the first thought, they shoot me back with another point to mix it up,” Schoening said.

Amanda Morgan, an education major, said the subject of politics rarely comes up in class, unless it is the politics of education.

“The only mention of politics I hear of is money issues, like underpaid teachers and budget cuts in the classroom,” Morgan said.

On the subject of religious discussions, one student found her faith attacked in the classroom.

Kristen Hall, a junior, said her religious views were attacked on multiple occasions her freshman year at GCSU.

“I had a teacher who seriously made me question my beliefs as a Christian,” Hall said. “Just having faith alone was not a good enough reason for his questions. He had no respect for his students, and therefore he lost my respect as a professor.”

Hall, said, however, the professor is no longer at GCSU.

The findings on the University System of Georgia found more than 60 percent of those surveyed were not affiliated with any political organization on their campuses.

“I’m not affiliated with any organization, and don’t plan to. But it still makes me feel secure knowing I can disagree with my professors without fear of ridicule,” said Schoening.

Some students who are affiliated with political organizations avoid the matter completely.

Justin Reeves, who is a member of the College Republicans explained his view.

“I try to take professors who are known to be more conservative to moderate. The few liberal professors I have had, however, have all been very cool and fair,” Reeves said.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 3 2008. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry