Study: Professors' politics have little effect on students' views

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I never felt my questioning was unwelcome, and I never felt pressured to think a certain way (except carefully).

Nope - neither did I.

[funkyab 0]

I worked really closely with several of my professors in undergrad. My thesis advisor, my theory professor, my voice teacher, my South Asian Studies advisor, an anthropology professor, three professors I worked for, two who trained me to be a writing fellow... I never felt my questioning was unwelcome, and I never felt pressured to think a certain way (except carefully).

!!! Sounds like some one else has spent time in music school conservatory!!!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I had an econ professor who was a bit of a free market purist, as in laissez faire and all that. I suppose you could have called him right-wing (although I wouldn't, his views were strictly academic, he wasn't political at all).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I had an econ professor who was a bit of a free market purist, as in laissez faire and all that. I suppose you could have called him right-wing (although I wouldn't, his views were strictly academic, he wasn't political at all).

Same here...he taught Free Enterprise at my HS and then also taught at night at my local college...Mr. Lillard (funny how I can remember his name). He used to make us watch videos back in HS of Milton Friedman. Even at that age, I didn't feel I was being indoctrinated.

[Don_Joy's Prince 0]

I had an econ professor who was a bit of a free market purist, as in laissez faire and all that. I suppose you could have called him right-wing (although I wouldn't, his views were strictly academic, he wasn't political at all).

Same here...he taught Free Enterprise at my HS and then also taught at night at my local college...Mr. Lillard (funny how I can remember his name). He used to make us watch videos back in HS of Milton Friedman. Even at that age, I didn't feel I was being indoctrinated.

Milton Friedman was an enlightened man. You were very lucky to have such a teacher. Dr. Thomas Sowell is another genius IMO. I would like to watch those videos myself right now. It was not indoctrination, it was the truth of what is known about economics. You can never add to the economy by subtraction.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I had an econ professor who was a bit of a free market purist, as in laissez faire and all that. I suppose you could have called him right-wing (although I wouldn't, his views were strictly academic, he wasn't political at all).

Same here...he taught Free Enterprise at my HS and then also taught at night at my local college...Mr. Lillard (funny how I can remember his name). He used to make us watch videos back in HS of Milton Friedman. Even at that age, I didn't feel I was being indoctrinated.

Milton Friedman was an enlightened man. You were very lucky to have such a teacher. Dr. Thomas Sowell is another genius IMO. I would like to watch those videos myself right now. It was not indoctrination, it was the truth of what is known about economics. You can never add to the economy by subtraction.

Laissez Faire economics, Don, is a particular ideology. I was fortunate to be exposed to it, but I would argue that all students be exposed to various viewpoints in terms of economic ideals. Is Keynesian economics (which even GWB engages in) any less true?

[HAL 9000 96]

Lets remember really, the ultimate outcomes of the overwhelming majority of the nation's university graduates end up feeding the same political and economical system in existence the nutrition it requires to keep going the way it is.

[bounrith 0]

I think the conservatives' complaint have to do with social science area of study (soft science) rather than any other branch. I mean you are not going to convince anyone either way by working on a chemistry molecular calculation or a quantum physics problem.

I believe the Study is false because if you believe that it takes a village to raise a child, and the matrix of education from K-College are all coming from one political spectrum then it is fair to be worry of that influence. In another word, soon enough that village will get to your children's impressionable mind.

I also believe the Study is wrong because I believe when we are young we like to emote and judge issues with feelings, hence the saying that "the youth is wasted on the young, while the wisdom is wasted on the old." It is this feel-good judgments that the young can easily be sway by an eloquent professors with grade-wielding power.

Edited March 28, 2008 by bounrith

[HAL 9000 96]

I think the conservatives' complaint have to do with social science area of study (soft science) rather than any other branch. I mean you are not going to convince anyone either way by working on a chemistry molecular calculation or a quantum physics problem.

I believe the Study is false because if you believe that it takes a village to raise a child, and the matrix of education from K-College are all coming from one political spectrum then it is fair to be worry of that influence. In another word, soon enough that village will get to your children's impressionable mind.

I also believe the Study is wrong because I believe when we are young we like to emote and judge issues with feelings, hence the saying that "the youth is wasted on the young, while the wisdom is wasted on the old." It is this feel-good judgments that the young can easily be sway by an eloquent professors with grade-wielding power.

Physical and Biological academic sciences have a historically conservative trend that has begun to unravel due to several factors. Among them, in this country, is the consistent ignorance of scientific findings by members of traditionally conservative politics, and the imposition of political doctrine, usually again from these same politicians, over disciplines that have no intrinsic political value to begin with.

Social sciences expose the student and the teacher to most aspects of social, political, and cultural tendencies and hence vary the entire spectrum of views that exist... Nevertheless, given the products that have been produced in this country, it is very difficult to equate educated or politicized viewpoints with any one political trend that dominates the political landscape.