“Silber had a specific faculty figure to contend with: prominent political science professor Howard Zinn, author of the influential People’s History of the United States, widely read but lightly regarded by serious historians. To Zinn, the replica shantytowns were the essence of education:”
If it wasn’t for the fact that public schools were free, there is no way in the world that I would have subjected my kid to Zinn’s book - it was ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE, America-hating CRAP.
In the presence of intellectual leadership like Silber's there is room to tolerate those like Zinn. I would suggest it even makes for a healthier academic enviroment.