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Professor bias is manifestly a problem in our public colleges and universities. Many readers of this article have spent four, six or even more years in the classroom at the undergraduate level and above, and it is apparent to most of us when a professor's political leanings differ from our own. It is also a documented fact that in most of these cases, the leanings of the academic in question are considerably to the left.

Now, I don't mind if the professor is a leftist, and even colors his lectures with that particular slant. I can filter that bias out. What I do mind, however, is when that professor seeks to indoctrinate his students in his way of thinking to the extent that he ceases to entertain legitimate discussion, and even denigrates and chastises students for opposing points of view.

Freedom of thought and one's particular conclusions are especially important in the social studies area of academia. I have been in classrooms where to have a point of view contrary to the professor's is a sign of impending grade suicide. In fact, some professors conduct such a hostile classroom that to be a conservative is a sure way of attracting extremely negative attitudes and comments by left leaning students with the approval and support of an equally hostile professor.

It is the professor's job to teach documented facts and constructs that allow the student to understand and relate the course material. On points subject to reasonable, debatable, differing points of view, though, he should offer balanced opportunities for the student to arrive at their own conclusions as long as their arguments are considered, reasonable and can be defended. In essence, he should be fair in presenting all sides of an argument or the documented facts.

If a student can demonstrate a competent understanding of the facts and principles outlined in the syllabus of a course, and can build an opinion based on knowledge, particular individual conclusions should not be subject to ridicule and the penalty of a lower grade. It is the professor's job to to awaken in the student's mind a desire to learn and to seek truth wherever the facts may lead him. It is not an opportunity to ensure the student's absorption of a particular political stance and view of the world.

Many of us are impressionable and subject to demagoguery in our younger, college years. Time, marriage, living in the real world and the advent of raising our own children generally disabuse us of the unreasonable twisting of our "minds of mush" by the unscrupulous bias of our professors. Thank God.

Learn more about this author, Terry Booth.
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