After listening to the recording of UWO criminal justice professor Stephen Richards, I’m taken by the lack of interest and questions by his students, and the middle ground Richards took in explaining the effects of Walker’s plan on the UWO. I want to know why changes to the University shouldn’t be of interest to the students? But instead, recall target and philanderer Sen. Randy Hopper wants an investigation and firing?
Northwestern: Sen. Randy Hopper on Tuesday called for an investigation into the in-class political activity of college professors along with the resignation of a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh faculty member who encouraged his students during class to sign a petition to recall the Republicanlawmaker. "Quite frankly, nothing short of this professor resigning will be adequate for the students and the parents of UW-Oshkosh," Hopper said. "People send their kids to school to be educated not indoctrinated, and this professor took state-funded time to make a political stand," he said.
You know how easily it is to indoctrinate college students, especially conservative moles willing to secretly record their professor. These are not children anymore. Indoctrination really? Ever try to tell your college age kid something? I thought brainwashing as a plot point ran its course in the 60’s?
But the party of straw men won’t forget. So things are back to normal…
…corrective action was taken by the end of March. Students have since reported classroom conditions improved, according to the statement.
Oh, and the phony “student doesn’t live on campus” argument rears its ugly head.
Senate President Mike Ellis said he was not satisfied with that response."When a constituent of mine is mislead by a professor…" The constituent Ellis referred to is a female student whom Richards encouraged to sign the petition even though she lives in Ellis' senate district.
"If you sign this, you should sign it with your campus address. You know, if, like, instead of your parents address you use your address here on campus," he said. "This is a guy who teaches a criminal justice class and then encourages a student to violate the (election) code? That is mind boggling," Ellis said.
NO, that’s not what he did. If the student had a campus address, then she would be in that district, only if she is registered there. And that’s something even a college professor wouldn’t know.
There are a few problems here. One is that the student is not paying for a lecture about the lefty view of the Gov's proposal or recalls.He isn't speaking out of some noble desire for justice, but rather simple greed.The professor should stick to the syllabus and deliver the content the student has paid to receive. The second problem is that even in a college classroom, the professor is the one who assigns a grade; therefore, is is natural to assume that many students do not feel comfortable contradicting a professor on a rant. Most were probable quietly waiting for him to shut up and get back to his job. Finally, the university dicided that his actions were in need of some form of discipline and acted. Isn't that clear enough for you that his comments and actions were out of line? I'm sure the majority in the class were happy this student could put an end to the professor's pointless rant. As for Hopper? He's a politician in a politically charged environment; he's going to take his shots--pointless as they may be--when he can.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the phony idea that a professor would unprofessionally use a grade to retaliate against a student is old Republican talking point material. This is the myth promoted by David Horowitz.
ReplyDeleteThe university reacted because of the conservative "hit" machine known as talk radio, that had latched onto this like a rabid dog, literally.
Poor Hopper, who's not living in his district, having an affair, and is a reliable vote (all Republicans are) for a desperately overdue ideological coup. The professor explained the changes Hopper voted for, effecting the UW and jobs. Taking his shots, over the top pot shots is not excusable because of the politically charged atmosphere. They're unreasonable should be reported as such.
Thanks for the point of view.
Mr. Demc.
ReplyDeleteFirst, thank you as well for your polite response.
I did not say that a student who was "uncomfortable" confronting a professor was acting rationally. To suggest that this is an old "talking point" doesn't make any sense to me. With this claim do you mean that you cannot respond to it, or that you need not? Saying something is a "talking point" suggests neither that what is said is incorrect nor that it is invalid. All political factions have "talking points,"
Next, you rightly point out that the story was brought to the attention of most people through "a conservative hit machine." I believe this is where I first heard of the story, too. Again, I wonder, how does the mode in which the story is brought to light make a difference? After all, I learned about Mr. Hopper--who strikes me as a loser--and his "crappy, deliberate transgressions" from liberal blogs. Does this mean that I should dismiss the facts because I don't like the source? Do I think his calls for an "investigation" are over the top--sure, a stupid waste, a ploy. But as I said before, he is a politician and if we were to spend all our time listing the over the top accusations of the last seven months...well, you get the picture.
But a classroom should be a space of "clinical distance" and teachers who cannot abide be this moral principle are unprofessional and need to change their ways or leave the profession. While I would not suggest he should be fired, can't you at least admit that some discipline is appropriate? Why do you feel the need to take up for someone with so little professional virtue? Evaluate the man on his actions, not his politics.