[Teaching_Composition] Re: Teaching_Composition digest, Vol 1 #1098 - 3 msgs

Sat, 16 Sep 2006 15:01:47 -0400

Maybe you could give us some details from your firsthand observation of
such situations, Bill.  I think the best way to understand the impulse
behind the OBR and to counter it is to hear stories and to examine them.
We didn't have enough information about McConnell's situation, so maybe
your observations or (hopefully not) your experiences could show us some
of the problems that make people worry about politics in graduate
programs and ideological coercion.  So far on the list we have heard of
some rude behavior in the classroom and some assumptions that
instructors made about students, but what about the type of orthodoxy
that silences, punishes, and drums a person out of a program or a
university?

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: teaching_composition-admin@mailman.eppg.com
[mailto:teaching_composition-admin@mailman.eppg.com] On Behalf Of Mr.
Bill
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 1:26 PM
To: teaching_composition@mailman.eppg.com
Subject: Re: [Teaching_Composition] Re: Teaching_Composition digest, Vol
1 #1098 - 3 msgs

I don't know why all the fuss over McConnell.  It's definitely not the
first 
time, nor will be the last, when a graduate student in forced out of a 
program because of "politics."  Graduate school is not all about
academics 
(unfortunately).

Bill

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thelin,William" <wthelin@uakron.edu>
To: <teaching_composition@mailman.eppg.com>
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 9:51 AM
Subject: RE: [Teaching_Composition] Re: Teaching_Composition digest, Vol
1 
#1098 - 3 msgs

> My thanks for yours, Doug's and Elizabeth's comments.  I'm afraid I
> don't agree with the sentiments expressed in them, however, as an
> important distinction has not been made.  Why is this case proof of
> ideological party lines, as Doug worded it?  How is it "thought
control"
> when a program whose stated purpose is to certify teachers to teach in
> New York decides that a person is unsuitable for such a position?  How
> has the program been dogmatic in reaching a decision about McConnell's
> beliefs?
>
> I think there's a difference between challenging the dominant beliefs
in
> any field through logic, fact, and research, and reacting against
those
> beliefs merely because they contradict personal values.  We don't know
> enough about what McConnell actually wrote or did to come to any
> certainties about his scholarship.  From the little I was able to
read,
> however--bits and pieces quoted on conservative websites--he seemed
> wedded to a conservative ideology.  What we do know is that the
college
> was so concerned about this student that it took a pretty
extraordinary
> step in removing him from the program.  I just cannot believe that a
> graduate director would choose this course of action if a student had
> actually presented well-supported arguments in favor of corporal
> punishment and against multiculturalism.  Remember that several
> professors reviewed his portfolio before the program reached its
> decision.
>
> Remember also that McConnell stated that his views comprised his
> teaching philosophy.  I don't know about others, but don't we usually
> try to enact our teaching philosophies?  There are constraints placed
on
> K-12 instructors (on college professors as well), but it would be
> strange for a person to teach in a way that violated his or her
teaching
> philosophy.  Further, note again that in the document about his
teaching
> philosophy, McConnell stated not that a classroom "should" teach
> American culture rather than multiculturalism, but that he "would" do
> this.
>
> The question of rights is an interesting one.  What responsibilities
did
> Le Moyne have to this student?  What responsibilities does it have to
> society?  In this case, McConnell specifically distinguished between
> American/state culture and multiculturalism.  I don't think it would
be
> fair to K-12 students of color to have this man teaching them.  Don't
> they have a right to be included in American culture? Further, to draw
a
> parallel, if a medical student denounces advances in surgery and says
> that his philosophy of medicine is based on pre-1960's practices,
would
> we want this person to be given a license to practice medicine?  Would
> we not question the medical school that certified this person?  Some
> people simply are not suited for the goals they make for themselves.
> There is no innate right to any given career.  For someone to be
granted
> a position of responsibility, he or she needs to account for the best
> information available in his or her field.  He or she does not
> necessarily have to abide by that information, but when going against
> that information, he or she should have reasons that are logical and
> factual.
>
> Free speech, as guaranteed in the Constitution, gives people the right
> to say just about whatever they please, and I certainly am not
> suggesting that De Moyne or any institution should take this right
away.
> But individuals do not have the right to have their beliefs granted
> credence by institutions, especially when those beliefs, if acted
upon,
> could do physical and psychological harm to children.
>
> Bill
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: teaching_composition-admin@mailman.eppg.com
> [mailto:teaching_composition-admin@mailman.eppg.com] On Behalf Of
> Charles Nelson
> Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 9:17 AM
> To: teaching_composition@mailman.eppg.com
> Subject: [Teaching_Composition] Re: Teaching_Composition digest, Vol 1
> #1098 - 3 msgs
>
> I wasn't aware of all the details of the McConnell, so, Bill, your
> additions are quite helpful in looking at it more closely. Sometimes,
> one or two details can make a difference. If anyone has links or
> sources to give us a more complete picture, that would be useful.
>
> I'm not really sure how to begin. I want to stick to substance, but
> I'm distracted by what I see as misdirections and unwarranted
> assumptions. For instance,
>
>> McConnell's GPA was 3.78, which is hardly outstanding for a
>> graduate student, so several professors obviously had reservations
>> about his work.
>
> As long as McConnell's GPA meets the college's standards for being in
> the program, whether or not he was outstanding is not at issue here.
> What is at issue is whether his rights as a student were violated. In
> addition, was the GPA due to grading bias on account of his beliefs
> or due to his ability? Without extra information, assuming that
> professors had reservations is a circular argument.
>
> From the information provided, this case did not deal with his
> ability in class. Rather, it was because of his beliefs:
>
>> He was dismissed from the program by the program's director, not
>> the professor, because she had "grave concerns regarding the
>> mismatch between [his] personal beliefs regarding teaching and
>> learning and the Le Moyne College program goals."
>
> You questioned whether McConnell's beliefs would let him comply with
> NY state law. We cannot predict what McConnell will do. When I was
> younger, much younger and considerably "reactive," I used to not only
> argue but also to believe in all sorts of outlandish positions. But I
> never acted on them. Even now, my economic beliefs are at odds with
> federal income tax laws, and I also disagree strongly with the
> Supreme Court on some decisions regarding religion. However, I pay my
> taxes and abide by the law.
>
> The substance of this case again seems to be that because of his
> beliefs Le Moyne College removed him from its program. Obviously,
> this program has limits to the diversity of beliefs it allows.
> Actually, we all have limits. However, to take a position that in
> general a person should not be graduated or hired because their
> "beliefs would not be compatible with New York state law" is to
> support thought control. Rather ironic for an institution of "higher
> learning," isn't it?
>
> Charles Nelson
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