I am in Reblog heaven! Another excellent post. What is happening to education in this country? If ever we were in need of education, beyond technocracy, it would be now. It’s sad how stupid people are becoming on subjects of any real depth. How easy we want everything handed to us. How averse AND slow we are at seeking spiritual knowledge, exploring moral depths and upholding justice SMH. Ok, but I digress. Part of this tide of eroding educational standards must be laid squarely at the doors of Corpocracy and Capitalism polluting the waters.
It’s a sad and sobering day when teachers, from grade school to college, are shouting warnings that few seem willing to listen to.
This article is from Slate:
Shannon Gibney is a professor of English and African diaspora studies at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC). When that’s your job, there are a lot of opportunities to talk about racism, imperialism, capitalism, and history. There are also a lot of opportunities to anger students who would rather not learn about racism, imperialism, capitalism, and history. I presume MCTC knows that; they have an African diaspora studies program. Back in January 2009, white students made charges of discrimination after Gibney suggested to them that fashioning a noose in the newsroom of the campus newspaper—as an editor had done the previous fall—might alienate students of color. More recently, when Gibney led a discussion on structural racism in her mass communication class, three white students filed a discrimination complaint because it made them feel uncomfortable. This time, MCTC reprimanded Gibney under their anti-discrimination policy.
Elevating…
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Streams Of Consciousness - Coco Rivers 
This is ridiculous! What’s the point of referring to colleges and universities as institutions of higher learning, if students cannot be challenged to consider alternate realities and the very ones that continue to privilege some while marginalizing others? If the point of participating in such an environment is to come out unscathed, unhurt, entitlements intact, and unchallenged, then college ain’t for you, boo boo. (smh)
Hi Empress, The boo boo just killed me lol. No, it makes you wonder what folks are going to college for. The paper and prestige? Or, to open up their minds to knowledge? If I had my way, I would be endlessly educated, there are so many things that I’d love to delve into. I always adored the “life of the mind” as it’s been called and have a great respect for those who’ve dedicated their life to learning and teaching others. It’s disturbing to me this continuing trend of undermining our educators rather than uplifting them.
🙂 Agreed. I see nothing wrong with challenging a prof, but not on their credibility and facts. Civil discourse would be too much to ask for, I suppose.
LOL. Aww c’mon. Civil discourse is devolving. This is what happens when we attack college education, substitute good parenting for cable and allow the harbingers of hate to be elevated to celebrity status. Just joking, I think 🙂
I’ve been following this story with some interest since it came out (I actually live pretty close to MCTC). While I agree that it is horrible that Professor Gibney is under such fire I also get the distinct feeling that not all the facts about this story are being reported.
Hi Rachel, It’s understandable that you take that stance since the media often plays fast and loose with the facts. Unfortunately, the story is not unique in that it has become all too common to castigate anyone who speaks out about racism, of any type, these days.
Isn’t that the sad truth :9. Although, I do still have a hard time shaking the feeling that a critical piece is missing from this story.
Good article. I don’t understand how this is possible, or even legal. Students don’t have the right to silence a professor just because they don’t like what she’s saying. Which decade are we in??
If a student finds the teacher to be stating incorrect facts, then they can research on their own credible sources, and complain to the University head. I agree with treating students like customers; but they have no right to claim authority over an expert teaching the class, until that student has earned their own credibility.
This sounds like just one more case of supremely entitled, overprivelleged kids wanting the world to cater to them. It is nauseating.