A bill being introduced to the Colorado Legislature would enable college students to file a grievance against their professors if they felt there was a “hostile environment” in the classroom toward their religious or political views, as well as if the students felt the professor discussed controversial materials outside of the class subject.
This is completely ridiculous.
There is no better place than a university for debates – there are few other places where one may discuss current events with many interested, intelligent people at once. The opportunity to do so should be enjoyed and not removed because some students don’t like to hear views different than their own.
| The issue: Students would be able to file complaints against professors if controversial topics were discussed in classes |
There are very few professors who punish students for having different views than their own. As long as the opinions are well-founded, they are respected. A disagreement on the professor’s part generally does not constitute a hostile environment.
More disturbing is the section of the bill that tries to inhibit discussion of controversial material. If students can’t discuss such topics in college classrooms, where can they?
Part of a well-rounded education is attained by professors diverging from the textbooks and relating class material to the broader world.
Everything is interconnected and it serves students well to see and experience that – classes would not be as interesting or valuable if the material taught was kept strictly to the catalog description.
The bill, if passed, would serve mostly to frighten professors away from discussing anything controversial. College classes should expand and challenge students’ minds. Chances of that happening are considerably lessened when a professor doesn’t dare discuss anything besides his or her lecture notes.
While the bill is meant to create a “safer” environment for students’ views, all it would do is narrow educational opportunities and stifle debate. Students have survived and thrived in the educational system thus far without such “protections” and they do not need them now.
– The Associated Press contributed to this article
