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>> adopt a neutral stance and protect freedom of speech. Neutral stances sound all well and good, but in reality they are fraught with difficulties. What is th
by sandworm101 3y ago
>> adopt a neutral stance and protect freedom of speech.
Neutral stances sound all well and good, but in reality they are fraught with difficulties. What is the neutral stance on anthropomorphic climate change? What is the neutral stance on the age of the earth? Or its shape? Adopting pure neutrality means giving voice to the fringes. While students can certainly benefit in principal from hearing such voices, I would have walked out of Geology 101 had we been tested on "alternative" religious-based models of geology. I went to university to learn about reality. I can get enough of the non-reality from the internet.
- kelnos 3y agoYou're not actually arguing against what the GP said. The argument being made is that administrative staff should stay out of these sorts of debates. They should have no position on climate change. That's the faculty's job, especially faculty whose expertise is in climate science. If faculty is teaching religious-based versions of these sorts of topics, then students are free to either a) enroll elsewhere, or b) engage in activism with the goal of having these faculty members removed from teaching positions. The administrative staff should be responding to the wants and needs of students (and faculty, to some extent), not pushing their own views on them. Of course, there's usually some overlap. Some (many?) university departments will have dean positions that rotate among teaching faculty. But pure administrative positions should maybe sit back and listen rather than pushing their own agenda.