Before attending Franklin College, I did not know the meaning of the phrase, "liberal arts education." It has since been pounded into my head that the term describes a curriculum that mandates a variety of general courses for all students.
However, it is easier for me to see a different meaning. Reflecting on the past four years, I have decided that I could simply delete the word "arts" from the phrase and say that I have received a "liberal education."
I'm not alone in this statement--it rings true for all college students.
Franklin College has a relatively conservative student body, but many of its courses, some of which are required, promote liberal ideas.
I am currently enrolled in "WST 101," Women's Studies, the only class that fit both an elective requirement and already packed schedule. Although the professor began with the usual "embracement of all opinions" speech, it is easy to see that conservative ideas are not welcome in her classroom.
Therefore, I have been forced to read and write about topics that I do not agree with; I have had to pretend to accept feminist ideas in order to do well.
Last week, I was assigned the reading of chapter five from "Feminism is for Everybody" by Bell Hooks. In it, she writes, "Women of all classes must continue to make abortions safe, legal, and affordable."
I did not agree with this in the slightest, but I had to swallow the vomit ascending to the back of my throat and keep reading.
Why? Because as a conservative, I know the importance of education, the importance of a diploma.
I know that I am strong enough to reject all inconsistencies with my belief system. But I have seen that most young adults are easily swayed. It is therefore unfair for professors to drill certain viewpoints into their heads without a real openness to objection.
I sometimes wonder whether the overwhelming support among 18-29 year olds for Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama is the result of such liberal educations. If opinions at the academies were more balanced, would the support for each party be better proportioned?
Teachers say that they want to make a difference in the lives of their students, but this difference is not positive when it does not allow us to think for ourselves.
I hope that universities and colleges can learn to see through these biased efforts and focus on providing more objective educations. Maybe the word "arts" can someday find its way back into our liberal curriculums.
Monday, February 18, 2008
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2 comments:
Valid point and arguement, though I find most courses here at FC to even out on the moderate side. I also tend to feel like one of the few outspoken liberals on our conservative-dominated campus. (Which is ironic, since I'm not even *that* liberal if compared to the rest of the nation and just not the Indiana Bible-Belt region.)
I really don't think the "liberal" college educations are a direct influence on the Obama-boom. I don't think most liberal attitudes are a direct result of what is taught in the classroom, but instead result from the freedom to be expected to think for one's self that arrives in college and the desire to shed many "old" beliefs/views held by our parents and those of the older generation.
Besides, I simply can't afford to be a Republican for at least a few decades. ;)
To be cliche, Winston Churchill once said, "Anyone who isn't a liberal by age 20 has no heart. Anyone who isn't a conservative by age 40 has no brain."
-Rochelle
It was brought to my attention through email that by "pretend(ing) to accept" concepts that I do not agree with, I am being the "fake" person of my criticisms with blog #1. This is an interesting an accurate observation that has inspired me to be more "real" in my classes, voicing my true opinions more openly. I will let you know how this turns out.
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