Comments on: Is Radical Islamism Being Taught in Our Schools? http://www.bloggernews.net/12263 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:49:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: davidschussler http://www.bloggernews.net/12263#comment-487 davidschussler Sun, 19 Nov 2006 00:47:27 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/12263#comment-487 To zapzingzow If you read the whole article you would see that I fully agree with your comments. I don't believe that college courses should be censored. I do believe, however that parents and students should be as aware as possible of bias of any sort with regard to their studies. I used to teach English as a second language to immigrants and refugees from Southeast Asia and I was always careful to make the material non-political. At the same time there were Hispanic friends of mine in California who were learning English from texts that were written and printed by Marxist expatriots from cuba. They brought it to my attention. This particular material was very political, anti-American, and un-true. Basically they were subliminally learning social science through the guise of learning a language. If a course is designed to teach something and is honest, it should say what its motives are and not try to hide it behind another name or label. Religion and philosophy are nebulus and very non scientific. It is almost impossible to have a reasonable debate over them, yet debate and conversation is what they demend if we are to have a peaceful world. What I am against is bias from any direction in undergraduate education if it is not honestly labeled or announced. To zapzingzow
If you read the whole article you would see that I fully agree with your comments. I don’t believe that college courses should be censored. I do believe, however that parents and students should be as aware as possible of bias of any sort with regard to their studies. I used to teach English as a second language to immigrants and refugees from Southeast Asia and I was always careful to make the material non-political. At the same time there were Hispanic friends of mine in California who were learning English from texts that were written and printed by Marxist expatriots from cuba. They brought it to my attention. This particular material was very political, anti-American, and un-true. Basically they were subliminally learning social science through the guise of learning a language. If a course is designed to teach something and is honest, it should say what its motives are and not try to hide it behind another name or label. Religion and philosophy are nebulus and very non scientific. It is almost impossible to have a reasonable debate over them, yet debate and conversation is what they demend if we are to have a peaceful world. What I am against is bias from any direction in undergraduate education if it is not honestly labeled or announced.

]]> By: zapzingzow http://www.bloggernews.net/12263#comment-483 zapzingzow Sat, 18 Nov 2006 21:05:33 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/12263#comment-483 This article asks the question “Is Radical Islamism Being Taught in Our Schools?” then goes on to seemingly answer in the affirmative. In the first paragraph there is mention of the plethora of courses on the Middle East and Islamic Studies at most major universities. The article then states “Unfortunately there has become an unbalanced liberal modulation within the system” . The point is made that this “unbalanced liberal modulation” has affected, could currently be affecting how our children think and act in times of war. The author seems to be saying that we should therefore further restrain what is taught at the college level. Unknowingly or knowingly the real question the writer is asking is “Should we remove critical thinking from the colleges”. Students at the college level should be able to reach their own decisions. If they are being indoctrinated, the fault lies as much with a school system that has failed to teach them critical thinking long before they reach college. The majority of the arguments against Islam can be used against a multitude of religions. Our Bible has its own bloody passages, and those passages have been used and are still used to justify horrendous acts. Should we also remove that danger from our society? The Torah has it's questionable parts also, shall it go? Shall we just turn our colleges into a higher level of our public schools? Institutions meant to indoctrinate the masses with a good work ethic and compliant behavior? Or shall we let them think for themselves, make their own decisions. The teaching of Middle East or Islamic Studies, the “unbalanced liberal modulation” is not what we have to fear, what we should fear is the influence of those that promoted and continue to promote an education system that does not teach thinking. We should instead explore the history of our education system, religions and the world. Explore philosophy, logic and critical thinking. With those tools extremism from any side will not have a foot hold. This article asks the question “Is Radical Islamism Being Taught in Our Schools?” then goes on to seemingly answer in the affirmative. In the first paragraph there is mention of the plethora of courses on the Middle East and Islamic Studies at most major universities. The article then states “Unfortunately there has become an unbalanced liberal modulation within the system” . The point is made that this “unbalanced liberal modulation” has affected, could currently be affecting how our children think and act in times of war.

The author seems to be saying that we should therefore further restrain what is taught at the college level. Unknowingly or knowingly the real question the writer is asking is “Should we remove critical thinking from the colleges”. Students at the college level should be able to reach their own decisions. If they are being indoctrinated, the fault lies as much with a school system that has failed to teach them critical thinking long before they reach college.

The majority of the arguments against Islam can be used against a multitude of religions. Our Bible has its own bloody passages, and those passages have been used and are still used to justify horrendous acts. Should we also remove that danger from our society? The Torah has it’s questionable parts also, shall it go?

Shall we just turn our colleges into a higher level of our public schools? Institutions meant to indoctrinate the masses with a good work ethic and compliant behavior? Or shall we let them think for themselves, make their own decisions. The teaching of Middle East or Islamic Studies, the “unbalanced liberal modulation” is not what we have to fear, what we should fear is the influence of those that promoted and continue to promote an education system that does not teach thinking. We should instead explore the history of our education system, religions and the world. Explore philosophy, logic and critical thinking. With those tools extremism from any side will not have a foot hold.

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