Posted on 07/24/2011 8:38:02 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
Why are conservatives such a minority at so many graduate schools? Conservatives like to blame liberal bias. Liberals like other explanations.
One — the most tactful hypothesis — is that conservatives just aren’t interested in academic careers. Another — the most smug hypothesis — is that conservatives are just too close-minded and dimwitted.
Now, fortunately, we have something beyond hypotheses, courtesy of scholars who have been taking a close look at their colleagues. Some even conducted a small sting operation that they believe is the first field experiment on political bias in academia. The perpetrators include Neil Gross, a professor of sociology at the University of British Columbia, whose previous work showed that Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 4 to 1 among professors, by at least 6 to 1 at elite universities, and by still higher ratios in departments of the humanities and social sciences.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Some people are more interested in theory than reality.
” Republican scholars are more likely than Democrats to end up working outside academia, as documented by Daniel Klein, an economist at George Mason University. Dr. Klein, who calls himself a classical liberal (a k a libertarian), says that the university promotes groupthink because its system of “departmental majoritarianism” empowers the dominant faction to keep hiring like-minded colleagues. And when a faculty committee is looking to hire or award tenure, political ideology seems to make a difference, according to a “collegiality survey” conducted by George Yancey. “
My conservative dad, RIP had to suffer at the hands of these Marxists for 25 years. One day he told me that the ENTIRE english department at U Mass was Marxist.
I don’t have grad school, but doing undergrad work, I got shouted down -literally, by the prof and the class- for doing anything other than toeing the hard-left line.
That gets old. Why would I want a career in academia if I’m going to have to put up with that for the rest of my working life?
‘Tolerance’, my ass.
It is simple, I think. Government controls education, either directly in public institutions from K through college, or indirectly by supplying the money for most college educations. The only conservative leaning institutions are those that refuse any ties to government funding, not even student loans.
We will never have real education reform and progress until government is out of it completely. Unfortunately, most Americans are sold on the idea of the public school system. They can’t see any other way of doing things. Government methods of education have not changed much in 100 years (methods not content). If government had been in charge of transportation, we would still be riding horses.
I think, the report comes to the correct conclusion: Conservatives AVOID professoship as a profession because we can’t STAND BEING AROUND THOSE STINKING LIBERALS... and, we know intuitively, that we’ll never be treated fairly in that environment.. so, why bother?
read
Conservatives want to build from what is given. Liberals want to destroy what is given.
Yeah. Like the dimwitted, close-minded William F. Buckley, Jr. What, exactly, has any open-minded "Liberal," left-winger ever changed his mind about. They cannot even admit that they were completely wrong about Stalin and the USSR.
ML/NJ
I was reading some history of Stalin’s henchmen and these men defined evil. People still don’t realize just how brutal and horrific Communism was and is. They certainly won’t hear about it in schools.
My tagline is courtesy of one of my conservative economics professors... he used it to conclude his debate with liberal peers after running circles around them and destroying their ridiculous assertions that were intended to pass as fact... needless to say, it was always a joy to watch.
I retired from the AF some years agao and went looking for a job as a professor (computer science). I eventually found one, but had several phone interviews where (it was clear) some faculty members had hostility toward me because I was currently in the military. I was asked more than once what my attitutde would be toward a gay student in my class.
Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 4 to 1 among professors, by at least 6 to 1 at elite universities, and by still higher ratios in departments of the humanities and social sciences.
The first two groups, 4 to 1 among professors, by at least 6 to 1 at elite universities are why degrees are becoming more and more useless. They teach nothing but there left leaning thoughts.
The latter, higher ratios in departments of the humanities and social sciences, is because most republicans/conservatives believe in taking responsibility for their own lives and believe if you want something in life, you go out and earn it where liberals blame everything on anyone but themselves and can’t live period without the support of government.
Note to self: close italics before definition next time.
I’m a somewhat elderly engineering grad student in Connecticut.
Students and teachers are mostly apolitical.
Those that do speak politics lean conservative.
Now is a good time to point out outstanding examples of those who have studied the history of civilization, have come to appreciate the unique achievements on behalf of liberty for individuals which occurred in America in 1776 and 1787, and who offer their students in the colleges and universities a chance to expand their knowledge base beyond Mao/Marx/Lenin/Keynes.
Among such outstanding professors are, to name two: Dr. Thomas Sowell, Dr. Walter Williams. Add your own.
It may take more time, but when people start to realize that they have overpaid for a degree and education in a specific field, then they may find learning from another source (such as internet or experience) to be more beneficial.
Universities need to change or become horse buggies! Just like climate (er global warming)change we should demand proof and not left wing theory. Common sense works.
I have clients that are much more productive with a high school diploma than the educated doctor and masters degrees that tried to run the business that they bought.
“Those that can do. Those that can’t, teach. Those that can’t teach, write. Those that can’t write, write for the [local fishwrap].”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.