According to recent research on that tired issue of politics in the classroom, the political opinions of professors do not seem to have any influence over the political opinions of students. (New York Times)
Having been included in the book, The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America, the issue hits close to home for me, as one might imagine. I'm not surprised, of course, given that I can hardly entice my students to follow my advice to read the newspaper, not to drink themselves into oblivion, cut down on consuming needless goods--let alone think like I do about a wide range of complex political issues that perplex me most of the time.
So I'm left to wonder about what students are learning in the classroom if they do not follow their professor's direction on political concerns. Granted I am biased, but I happen to think that my personal opinions about Obama and McCain and all of the other candidates are noteworthy. I'm a learned person and have given serious thought to which one would make a better president. For twenty-five years my full-time job has been to reflect on these kinds of issues and I think that students probably ought to listen to me...and then listen to the person teaching in class next to mine and the next person and so forth. Where are students receiving their information if not from professors? The Daily Show? Hardball? The fair and balanced commentaries on Fox News? Their parents? These alternatives are really not very appealing for the spread of democratic process.
Go beyond the idea that classrooms should be an objective-neutral-dispassionate-etc. space for the transmission of ideas. And step outside of the box labeled "professors have inordinate persuasive powers and should not impose their ideas onto vulnerable students." We throw our youth to the wolves every time they leave the home.
And why is it better or more acceptable for people to follow their parents over their professors? As someone whose job it is to unravel the bigotry and narrow-minded provincialism that some (perhaps "many") parents have imposed on their progeny--and this seems to begin as soon as consciousness forms--I'm not especially hopeful about the possibility of love-acceptance-generosity-tolerance-democracy flourishing if we primarily rely on the magical fertilizer of parent-child socialization.
OK, so that sounds harsh, but I'm trying to make a point. My experience has led me to conclude that most parents have relatively little information about lots of complex issues and therefore have no business imposing their narrow vision on their children. Oh, except they're parents and that's one of the privileges of being a parent, right? As a parent one gets to tell one's children all of the things that they wish our own parents either told or did not tell us.
So I guess what I'm really trying to say is that most parents do not think like me...and until they do they should let me brainwash their kids. Did I really just write that?
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I think that this post is quite ironic. Throughout the entire election I was searching high and low for credible information about both candidates. When I look to my parents, my father for instance, the information was biased towards his conservative, veteran, gun-loving lifestyle. Although I know my father is very educated on the issues I could not help but think I was only hearing one side. To even it out I contacted my sister, the PhD seeking feminist liberal. Once again the insight she gave me was wonderful information. She is obviously a very intelligent woman who is only a year away from a Doctorate degree. But once again I still did not feel satisfied. Neither one of my family members presented a fair argument. Going to class throughout the fall semester I was felling desperate for some real information. I actually wish that my professors would have provided more intelligent information about this historical election. I have great respect for the wonderful faculty here at Penn State. I value their teachings and knowledge about their subject matter. I know that there are many students out there like me. We felt lost in the hysteria of this election. We just wanted a neutral perspective that we could trust.
In the aftermath of it all I am satisfied with my first voting opportunity of my lifetime. From now on I know I can only learn from this. But I do know that one person close to me is happy that I did not listen to the political agenda of my professors. While having my weekly phone conversation with my father, he mentioned that a recent poll found that there were only 143 registered Republican professors in all of the top universities in the country. After that my father was happy that my professors did not sway my vote.
For most college students, college is the first time that students are away from their parents for a long period of time. Students have spent their whole lives around their parents and have listened to their parent’s political opinions, and because of this the majority of students have adopted the same opinions. So when kids go off to college, they start hearing less of their parent’s opinions and start believing different things. So when their kid’s political beliefs start to change parents blame the professors. This is because these are the people teaching their kids so they think the professors must be telling to believe certain things. I think this is especially true for parents who are conservative and then their kids go off to college and become liberals. We all hear how liberal professors or even teachers in general are, so they must be the reason why the majority of students are liberal, right? But even though it seems this way it makes sense that in reality professors don’t sway their student’s opinions. Most students have a hard enough time listening to their professors teaching them facts about a certain subject, but it’s even harder for them to not tune out their professor’s personal opinions. If a college student is changing their political beliefs it’s more likely that they are being influenced by their fellow peers than by their professors. But a student’s change in political belief can also simple come from being out of the house for their first time and feeling like they don’t have to listen to their parents as much anymore and wanting to adopt their own beliefs.
When I sit and think about how my political views have formulated I cant just give credit to one source. My views have been an accumulation of my parents, teachers, peers, and the media. I don’t think that any person has solely framed their views about anything from politics to fashion on their own. I believe that people have been affected by some other outlet other than themselves in order to help devise their opinions about certain topics. What I can say is that my father has impacted my political views in a major way.
This was my first year to vote and I didn’t know who I would vote for in the primaries when Obama was running against Hilary because like many of the youth; I just wasn’t that familiar with either candidates views or opinions. It wasn’t until my father shared with me his vote for Obama and his reasons why that I knew that I would be voting for him. Only after the pride grew stronger for Obama around the Penn State campus and the globe did I begin to really understand the magnitude of this election. When Obama was elected the democratic nominee I knew immediately that this was the man I would vote for in the 2008 Presidential election. But, my reasons were completely different. No longer was I voting for Obama because of my father and no longer was I voting for Obama because it was the cool thing to do. I was now voting for this man because I had seen him speak, I had listened to his interviews, I respected his choice for the vice president, and I wanted change. I established and belief system in the Obama frenzy, I know had faith that this man could do it, I didn’t let anyone else’s views every make me second-guess my decision. When Sam wouldn’t be clear on who his vote would be for it didn’t bother me at all. I was now doing what I believed to be the best decision.
I don’t think that students primarily rely on their parents’ opinions or their parents’ opinions, but then again I could never be so sure. There are many people who are scared to have their own liberal beliefs and there are even people afraid to hold conservative beliefs based on their fear of being wrong or judged by someone else. I just think that it depends on the person. I have become the type of person who is willing to listen and take what I hear and learn and apply it to what I believe is true. Of course, I change my opinions about things because I have learned something new. But I think that I am just enhancing and maturing my intelligence, while also broadening my outlook on life. I believe that teachers hold the most important job in the world because they are the ones who teach the leaders of tomorrow.
I have found this an interesting topic. Should our fearless professor insert his ideologies and conclusions into his lectures? Should a professor tell people moral ideals when talking about gay or racial issues? Of Course! Especially when a professor backs it up with concrete facts. I have been taught to think critically of everything I am being told so that I can be sure of its accuracy. And this of course continues in college. If a professor is to be passionate about his/her subject than the professor must instate his own opinion. I think that it is the point of college to hear opinions. We should not be treated like idiots who believe everything we here. We should be treated like mature intellectuals who can evaluate someone else’s beliefs and adopt some, parts, or none of them. I don’t believe with everything that professor Richard says and I don’t think that is the point of the class. I will say that it opens a persons mind to different beliefs, most of which I think are accurate. I wish professor Richards could force his ideas on the large amount of bigoted idiots at this school, but he cannot. It is up to the student to accept what makes sense to him/her.
From the time that we were born our biggest contributors to our education has been our parents. Although this may be nice to say that our parents have taught us everything we know, this is a disappointing statement. If everything that you know is based on the limited knowledge that parents, relative and sibling have taught you, there cannot be much that you know about the world. I know that my parents are very limited on knowledge about the political system and current issues that are affecting the government presently, although they do know a decent amount. If this research of the New York Times is correct, there is a detriment to our society. Professors are the intellect of our society. Students should be looking to professors who know much about politics to help influence their political knowledge.
Although I am not really interested in politics, mostly because of the corruption and lies, I take an interest when my professors talk about the issues that are affecting our country. They are a good source of knowledge, unlike most of the people that were running around with Obama signs on campus. Most of the students supporting him did not have the least bit of information regarding his policies. I feel that although the fact may be that students don’t listen to their professors when they start talking politics, that we need to be more open minded of where we get our information. Especially if it is coming from well learned people.
Personally, a professor would never single-handedly sway my views on ANYTHING, be it politics or race relations or whatever, by just stating their positions alone. Around election time this year, I never heard anything even remotely involving politics from any of my professors besides Sam, and this annoyed me a bit. I am genuinely CURIOUS to know where professors stand on things, because it's part of human curiousity to know how other humans think. I wouldn't think differently of them no matter what, and they certainly wouldn't brainwash me, so I think it's ridiculous that educators are often advised to silence their opinions.
When you sign up for school of ANY kind, you're signing up to be educated. PERIOD. Therefore, when opinions come into play that are BACKED UP WITH FACTS, you're being educated and getting what you signed up for. I see no problem with professors stating their views in the classroom, because we volunteer ourselves (or, our parents volunteer us) to learn, and we choose what we listen to and what we don't.
If we can choose whether or not we pay attention in class or grasp the important concepts mentioned in the lectures, then we can certainly choose whether or not we are swayed by a mere opinion. Brainwashing is intense stuff, and definitely not the intent of most professors.
It makes you think a little bit when the young 17,18,19 year old goes out into what they initially think is the real world of college, but it is really nothing at all like the real world. They leave home for the first time, but still are easily influenced in their first few months or even the first year of college and will believe anything they hear. Now when it comes to whether the professors are influencing students opinions, such as on the recent election, seems to make me look at them in the opposite way. YES the new student or even the students who have been here a while are greatly influenced by their parents because they are feel that their parents have instilled in them what is right. When it comes to politics, this goes for students and even people who are not educated and cannot speak for themselves, they will believe anything that they hear
It makes you think a little bit when the young 17,18,19 year old goes out into what they initially think is the real world of college, but it is really nothing at all like the real world. They leave home for the first time, but still are easily influenced in their first few months or even the first year of college and will believe anything they hear. Now when it comes to whether the professors are influencing student opinions, such as on the recent election, seems to make me look at them in the opposite way. YES the new student or even the students who have been here a while are greatly influenced by their parents because they are feel that their parents have instilled in them what is right. When it comes to politics, this goes for students and even people who are not educated and cannot speak for themselves, they will believe anything that they hear and that is what will influence their opinions. The only thing that keeps students from being influenced by professors is the values or the opinions that their parents have swayed them to feel and believe in. Nothing against the faculty here, but especially this year, since it was such an important election, it was obviously talked about in a great amount of classes. Some professors tired their hardest not to give their own personal opinion, but it is something that they feel strongly about and it is noticeable even though it is not meant to be. There is really nothing that can be done about this because they are people like you and me and they give their opinions like everyone else. Scott Ryan Galilei
For the most part before college, students have been taught to view things a certain way. That has greatly to do with the parents and the type of morals and ideology they have passed onto their kids. When the kids are at college they are encountering many new points of views for the very first time and they don’t know what to believe. So I think it is very important for professors to challenge ideology and people’s view, because by challenging them could opens up their awareness level. I am not saying that the professors need to bash students’ opinions to make them see it another way; just allow them to see both sides of the story. For example, I had a certain view on a topic that we discussed in class; after Sam gave his opinion and different ways to view the topic, I had chanced my mind completely. I chanced my mind because I was able to see different points of views and assess it for myself. I think students have learned from Sam, even if they didn’t agree with him because he was bias on a certain topic he still gave the students something to think about. And in order to grow as a person one must be aware of others and their opinions.
It’s funny how when I was younger, I believed every single thing my parents told me. If they said the sky was green… it was. I still take my parents’ opinions very much to heart, but over the years I have indeed figured out that sometimes- they just don’t know what they’re talking about. A few years back, if my mom shared with me her opinion on something political, or was complaining about a policy or action that was being taken, that became my view, and to an extent the only one I believed. Slowly, as I began to see other sides of the issues, I began to challenge her with evidence and questions, some of which she just did not have answers for. I realized that if I really wanted to be educated on a subject, that I had to do my own research, and expose myself to all the viewpoints on the topic.
Since coming to Penn State, this philosophy has only been supported and further carried out. People here go out and share their views, many times in an obnoxious manner, on all sides of all sorts of issues. I have found that they key is to listen to all the sides. If I want the information on a political subject, I’ll watch The Daily Show, CNN, and Fox News, as well as listen to Sam in class and what other opinions people have, provided they have some kind of evidence to support their views.
The bottom line is that opinions and viewpoints should be acquired and discovered, not learned.
As a broadcast journalism major this kid of stuff is drilled into my head one class after another after another. What channels to watch, who to listen to, what newspapers to read. Quite frankly, I’ve had enough of it! However, it is extremely beneficial. I come from a small town in rural Maryland where we have one local newspaper and pay to get The Baltimore Sun on the weekends. Looking back I used to be closed-minded and live in a bubble. I didn’t realize it then, but now I see how much I was secluded from in society. Professors have opened me up to doing research by looking at all news sources not just my favorite ones or the ones who share the same political views as I do. Now when I go home I realize how much my parents don’t do their research, and how much I just used to listen to them. Now I am able to make informed opinions on my own by watching CNN, FOX, MSNBC and reading numerous newspapers and Internet sites. I agree with Sam that many parents feel threatened that their children are going to be mind warped by professors when actually it’s pretty much the other way around.
I can’t agreed more with the fact that most children will definitely grow up learning similar ideas to their parents. Young children are very easily manipulated even throughout adolescence. Personally, I was very easily manipulated up until my last years on high school, when I realized it was okay to think for myself and what I felt was really important no matter what others thought.
I have met plenty of people that do no care about current issues like immigration, or politics generally because they don’t care. A lot of the people that have said they don’t care still sort of have an opinion. At this point, you have to have an opinion; you can’t afford it, really. These issues affect young people the most, because it’s about our future, essentially. The people that don’t care about politics, are the ones with the most uniformed opinions, and pick up ideas from their parents. Whether or not the parents have full, correct information doesn’t necessarily matter. The point is that young people don’t take the initiative to become more informed about social issues, until recently.
My parents are both very intelligent people; in fact, my dad was a history professor in Mexico. I can’t recall them ever sitting me down and telling me how I how to think or trying to impose their ideals on me, besides the ones of not drinking or stealing, etc. My parents are both liberals, and my dad is almost something of a communist, my mother likes democracy. They both were born in Mexico, and have similar backgrounds. The main point is that, my brother turned out to be a radical republican. My parents obviously did not have any influence over my brother. My sister is something in the middle, as am I.
Prussian Blue is the pop group of the two twins from California that sing songs of hatred towards anyone who is not white. They are nationalist girls no older than 15. In an interview with Good Morning America they literally had no idea what they were talking about. They are so brainwashed, it’s actually unbelievable, and it’s definitely not the girl’s fault. The girls are home school, and receive their education for the parents, and to make it worse, they live in a small town. No one is else to blame except for the parent’s ignorance.
I think that it is also easy to be persuaded by professors, of course. In Sam’s 119 class, the whole point of the class is to become more tolerant of other races and other people’s sexuality, and to not be hypocritical generally. That is basically the main idea. Sam has to impose some of his ideas about race and ethnicity to the class, it is necessary. That doesn’t mean that students should want to be like him, or change completely.
It also would be different if he focused on the minorities, but we spent an entire 2 weeks to the white people and how they should feel good about being white, and they shouldn’t feel guilty for being what they are. It’s not about being biased, but it’s about focusing and understanding the entire picture.
I think there is truth in that professors do not seem to sway student opinions, especially for me. Specifically in Soc 119, I never felt that Sam was forcing his political or personal views on us, more that he was throwing them out there for us to absorb and take as wanted. I do think that method is much more useful to students. I liked hearing different opinions and the reasoning behind them, and then forming one of my own. I went to a Catholic elementary and middle school, and was somewhat forced Catholic beliefs upon myself since the day I was born. As I grew older, I realized that some of the things I supposedly believed, I did not agree with. I was never really taught this is why I should believe in Catholicism, but that I had to because my family was. Because of this, I think I don’t really listen to a professor’s personal beliefs, only take them into consideration. Obviously my teachers are very educated in what they do, and should be listened to, but I have the right to form my own opinions, not to take theirs as mine. The professors I most respect are the ones whose beliefs I will listen to.
I really do not think it is fair to say that parents do not know enough to influence their children in a positive way on political issues, or to say that they are just passing down the narrow mindedness they grew up with. Especially if you consider that some of the professors who’s opinions students aren’t listening to are parents themselves. So are those professors passing down narrow-mindedness to their children? But then when they tell us their political views in class they are suddenly un-biased and fully researched? Truth is you cannot say one source is more reliable than another. There are some teachers who have done their research so their views have some more facts behind them, but there are also parents who have done a lot of research on the issues. Come on now, they’re parents… their kids are all at school what else to they have to do but follow the election? So why should our professors be the ones we listen to if our parents are just as informed? The people we are going to listen to and who’s opinions we are going to respect are the people we trust. Obviously we trust our parents, but at this point in our lives and education we know well enough whether or not they are informed on important issues, and we’re obviously not going to just accept what they say as correct without criticizing it ourselves. And on the other side, if we have a professor we really like and trust, that we know is very knowledgeable and researches the things they talk about ,we will without a doubt take their ideas into consideration. So yeah, maybe we aren’t listening to our professor’s political views and agreeing with them, but maybe we just want to adopt our views on our, without having adults just tell us what to think, and isn’t that a good thing?
As a student of your class, there's no way you could have swayed my opinion on the election and this is mainly because you refused to discuss it on most occasions. I was actually disappointed because I thought you would be more likely to discuss it but fully; I was hoping to find the information that's impossible to find about ALL of the parties (especially seeing as it was obvious you weren't going to vote for one of the major parties). I have always been anti the idea of a two party system, but finding anyone willing to discuss the other parties is a rarity. Needless to say I was disappointed. (Most of my professors were clearly interested in promoting Obama, although even they had no real reasons to back up these assertions, so I was still disappointed; I don’t care who people vote for, but if they’re gonna vote I would like them to have a reason for voting for them – a reason that they are able to sleep with at the end of the day)
On another note, I researched on my own (igoogle had a great feature with 6 of the presidential candidates, including Libertarian, Green, Constitutionalists, that gave up to date info about them found in the media) and found a candidate I most strongly agreed with. I was not swayed by my parents or brother and they were not swayed by me, which is exactly how I think things should work.
Coming from a family of Conservative views I can understand why professors feel as if students look past their firm and knowledgeable insight in fields such as politics. However, I must say that I for one indulged on information and opinions from various sources before deciding whether I would sway towards voting Democrat or Republican (or maybe even Libertarian). My decision had nothing to do with my parents, although I understood why my father felt it was best for me to vote for McCain. I weighed out pros and cons from both of the candidates and I tried to figure out which one stood for the causes that I cared for and agree with. Although we grow up admiring our parents and their views, it is childish to follow their footsteps just because we feel it’s our obligation as their children. My parents weren’t my only mentors; my high school teachers were all pushing for the students to be more liberal. I try to avoid biased opinions that many parents and professors both embody because they are only looking to better their personal needs. The voting process in our country is unique because we are able to choose a president that we feel will do the best as the leader of our country. The decision is in our hands and I refuse to make a choice based on someone else’s beliefs.
This blog entry interested me more than others because I feel like throughout the entire election I struggled to find information from credible sources on each candidate without feeling as though the source was leaning more toward one candidate than the other. I have to disagree with what Sam said about getting our information from a variety of sources. I would argue that some of these sources, such as The Daily Show and The Colbert Report are two excellent ways for people to learn more about each candidate. While I think it is important for a person to tune into sources that offer hard facts about each candidate, shows like the Daily Show and The Colbert Report offer excellent supplemental information and most of the time, critique each candidate far more than any mainstream media source. I would also say that these shows can be a lot more interesting and engaging than listening to the same story over and over again on every mainstream news channel. People like John Stewart and Steven Colbert offer a satirical critique of our government and each candidate that is hard to find elsewhere.
I would also have to disagree with what Sam said by saying that I think I am influenced by what I learn from my professors in class. Even if my mind is not changed completely, I hear what my professors are saying and everything I hear-- good or bad-- shapes my opinion on the topic.
I'm actually slightly insulted by some of Sam's comments. He made is sound as though the intelligent, Penn State students that he teaches are simply mindlessly listening to and agreeing with anything their parents tell them, particularly about politics. I, for one, was not raised in a household where my mother told me how to think. She allowed me to make my own choices based on whatever I chose to base them on. This doesn't mean that I never heard her opinions, it means that I knew that I was allowed to disagree. I realize that maybe this isn't always the case in every home, but Sam also needs to understand that he shouldn't generalize. Isn't that one of his main teachings? However, I also understand that he may be a bit frustrated by the push by a lot of schools to limit teacher and professor opinions in the classroom. I do happen to agree with him about that. I feel that it is important to hear as many sides of the story as possible in order to make an educated personal opinion. Clearly, university professors are highly educated and in all likelihood have very valid opinions, which should be heard. Overall, I believe that most educated people of voting age do not blindly listen to any one source whether it be professors or parents or fox news or anything else.
If students were truly swayed by their professors political opinions, then these professors must be spending an awful lot of times talking about the political issues in the classroom. In my opinion, if parents are worried that their kids professors' are swaying their opinion, then they should be more worried about why their child is being swayed period, because the issue of researching and deciding for themselves seems more important. Maybe they need to look at themselves, and ask, well why is it okay for me to sway my child's opinion? Shouldn't they have the right to make up their own mind? Obviously the "because I'm his/her parent" can be thrown own at either of those questions, but in all fairness, come on. I believe it is the peers that the students opinions are being swayed by, and that the parents are mistakingly blaming the professors, because college is all about class, right, not friends. Wrong. I have seen many friends who have based their political opinions on their friends, or the trend, NOT the professors, (for the majority anyways.) So when it comes down to it, professors fall very low on the scale of voter-political-influence, but unfortunately, the other things Sam mentioned (like TV shows, the biased news, Hollywood stars, and Parents) are very high on that list. If only we could all have the decency to do our own research, but I am one of the many who tends to agree with my family. Oh, well, that's life.
So this is interesting. Very interesting. Because I agree with this. Excuse my language but where the fuck DO students get their information? I do not consider myself an exceptionally learned individual when it comes to politics, but I do have an idea and enough information to base an informed decision upon. I read the newspaper, and no not just the Collegian. I do watch the news and I do have an interest in what is going on in the world. I did some work for the Obama campaign for change downtown here in State College. I did this not because I am a die-hard democrat or crazy about politics but because I wanted to get information out and get students to understand what was going on.
Parents are the downfall in most cases when it comes to politics because you’re right, they never learned in the first place and just because they are parents they have the best ideas and the best views on everything. I think very differently than my parents and consider myself to be pretty independent from some of their views. And I feel comfortable with this.
And when it comes to Professors like Sam. I WANT to hear their views because I value so much of what they have to say and how they are thinking. Professors are professors for a reason. They should be providing insight and understanding to what is going on in the world and especially in the realm of politics.
I think that in your class you have made me think more about politics. Although i did not vote for the same candidates as yourself, it has opened my eyes to new things about politics. I have never really thought about it before the past two years, i guess i thought i was too young to really get it. But since i am now of age to vote and my voice could be heard, i did do some research on the candidates. I did not vote the same as my parents, because we were voting for different reasons. I listened to what people had to say, either around campus, at home, online, or with friends. I had an open opinion on things, and actually did not have a solid candidate until the day of the election. Since this election did have a lot to do with race relations, i feel like we could talk about it easier. I did learn things about the Democratic party and Republican party and how they are the same party. How Obama and McCain are truly friends. But that comes with the territory of politics. They need to lie and deceive to get the most votes, but i do hope that they can be genuine and keep true to their words. I feel like you have helped me more on the topic of politics than my parents ever have.
-TJ
When I first came to college, my dad warned me about all the crazy liberal professors that I was going to have and to not to get brainwashed by them. He told me horror stories of how his friend’s daughter went to college and became a huge liberal and I should make sure that that doesn’t happen to me. Most of my life I have listened to my dad’s views on politics and usually shared his conservative ideals. I mostly agreed with him because I never really heard the other side of the issue. Recently, I‘ve noticed that I don’t agree with him on all issues and learning what other people think has really made me think differently about some issues. Throughout my time here, I never felt that a teacher was trying to impose what they thought on me. I enjoy hearing what my professors think about different subjects, especially politics. I obviously don’t agree with what my teachers have to say all the time, but I think the whole point of college is to know what’s out there and to decide on your own how you feel about important issues. I feel like some college kids and even adults in our country only get their information on politics from The Daily Show and Saturday Night Live. Both of these shows are pretty biased when it comes to what they show and it really makes me angry that ignorant people are going to believe everything they see on TV. People need to form their views based on several sources, not just their professors or parents or a ridiculous show. They need to go out there and look for the information to get all the facts and for their own opinion.
As a student, I feel that my parents sway my opinion more only because I am more 'like' them. I do not always agree with them on their voting choice, hence this past election. My father was a strong supporter of Barack Obama and my mother, although not completely convinced, was a supporter John McCain. Personally, with or without their ideals, I would have voted for a Conservative President. I did not even listen to my brother's opinions, my most admired person, a very educated former Penn State student with a Jurisdoctorate in law. I listen to everything he says and still, I had my mind set on what I believe and what candidate matched those beliefs best. So when I think about professors who will not disclose who they voted for, it makes me wonder why they thing it will effect their students. Yes, I am sure everyone is quite curious, I know I am- but I am going to vote for who I want to vote for regardless. Whether that vote it educated, uneducated, based off of a bias news network, or based off of following my parents' lead. Plus, many, not all, but many professors follow Liberal views. This is true amongst teachers as well. If they have a pre-conceived bias coming into the classroom already, then my chances of listening to them are significantly less, even if their views match mine. I do not believe a classroom is a place for political discussion, unless you are in our Sociology class or a Political Science class, basing all views, of course, on reliable facts. For the most part, I don't even think to care whom my professors 'endorse'. Like everyone else in the world, they are not me and they do not share every single one of my ideals. Curiosity is about as far as I care to go on their opinions or anyone elses, as poor as that may sound.
As an adult learner (aka brainwashing resistant) I believe that professors do have a profound effect on young people attending their classes. But so do their boyfriends, roommates, and anyone else they spend time with. Eighteen year old brains are waiting to be molded just as five year olds. The reason that you as a professor are singled out is because you can be. No one is going to demand that room mates stop spewing rhetoric to the children of America. When Sean Hannity beats up on Hillary, we can turn the channel. When Keith Olberman calls Bush the worst person in the world, we can turn the TV off. When Sam says God could be a woman, we laugh. But then we tell our parents, and those old farts get upset and complain and Sam gets his name in a book of bad people.
I try to teach my kids what I want them to know, but I also teach them to be open minded. They know who I voted for, but they also know why, and they are free to have their own opinion, whether they make it up on their own or hear it from a teacher, on the grounds that they are about to defend their reasons.
As a future teacher and someone who also tries to get through to people about the "truth" of many generally accepted falsehoods, I have to agree with what Sam is saying. My parents are wonderful people; they are caring, smart, educated, and fair. But I will say this: They often do not see the reality of what goes on around them. We should be working towards a society that wants us to question and challenge, not just accept things for what they are.
At Penn State, I have found such a wide range of professors. Most of those that have touched me are the ones who do give their opinion in class. What's so wrong with that? If we raise a generation of students who do not experience opinions, then how do we ever learn to challenge things? To me, this is the thing essentially wrong with education right now. We are too afraid to give children the power to think. And if people, parents, administrators, believe that it is "brainwashing" to have their children in a class with a professor who expresses his ideas, then maybe they should start raising children to have a bit more conviction and fortitude. Professors generally do not give their opinions to create clones of themselves, but rather to create students who can see all sides and learn to create their own ideas and arguments.
Mostly, I just find passivity to essentially be both anti-learning and anti-patriotic. I strongly believe professors should have the right to express themselves, giving the example for their students to do the same.
I do not think that just one person in general sways me in any way in my political beliefs. My parents raised me to believe certain things when I was younger and could not really think for myself. However, as I grew up and started making my own thoughts and experiences about political issues, I started thinking less about what my parents once taught me and what I actually deep down believe. I think the best way to create political views and opinions is by listening to as many people speak as you can and see whether you agree or disagree with them. Some people might actually say things that make you second guess your previous thoughts about an issue and make you think differently than before. I personally like when professors say their opinions because it gives me something to think about. If a agree with them, then great! However, if I do not agree with them, then it is no big deal. I have a lot of respect for other people's opinions and will not force them to give up their beliefs. I might add in my two cents about the issue to make people think about what I have to say, but I am in now way going to respect them any less for thinking differently than me, nor am I going to change who I am to fit the person's views if I do not believe them. When I think about who all have shaped my political opinions, I can not give credit to just one person. I think that my parents, brother, extended family, friends, and professors all have shaped my political views in some way. I do not think that there is anything wrong with people stating their views, just as long as you keep true to yourself.
Personally, I find the statistics that state that professors do not sway their students’ opinions to be extremely surprising. Before reading this post and hearing these statistics I would have definitely thought the opposite. I feel like in most cases, students are not exposed to many other figures to look to for advice in matters such as political views until coming to college. Therefore, I would think that the views that their parents possess would be extremely similar to that of their children. I would then think however that once coming to college and hearing the views of educated individuals such as professors, one would begin to explore other ideas that are out there. I know this is what has happened with a lot of my friends that have gone away to college, including myself. On the other hand, I have many other friends from home, who haven’t gone away to school and are still living at home, that have not changed at all. I agree with Sam in that everyone should look to more than one source for information, and I think professors can be a good source to get feedback on issues. I’m not condoning just believing everything that your teachers tell you, but it can never hurt to listen to everyone’s opinion.
The separation of elections and politics in the classroom isn’t something that’s needs to be followed religiously. No PUN intended, but seriously the separation is important just for the fact that it keeps professors from shoving political views down anyone’s throat. Honestly I am always looking for different perspectives and alternative ideas on all sorts of subjects, from politics to religion and so on. But when it comes to the classroom I do not necessarily want to hear it. When others views are enforced upon a large group of people there is going to be much conflict and disagreement. The fact is not everyone is going to share the same views, so professors shouldn’t be able to enforce a view point and have students have to study and learn about personal opinions no matter how backed the thought might be. We get enough intrusion by the media and just all of everyday life that we don’t need the pressure to build up in the classroom as well. The older we get the less easily influenced we become. I would have to agree with the majority in thinking that parents would be college students biggest influence, but until we ask for the input don’t just assume we want to talk politics.
I found this post to be extremely interesting. I do not believe that my parents do not have enough information to tell me the facts. I believe that I am fully able to research who I would like to vote for on my own as well. I personally do not feel that anyone has a right or should ever force their opinion on an individual. When you wrote “And why is it better or more acceptable for people to follow their parents over their professors?”, I honestly do not feel that this makes any sense. How are you to know where individuals get their information? Yes it is true that some people can be persuaded quite easily, but I do not feel that you can make this claim for the general population of your students. Who is to say that each professor has enough facts and is the master of all the information? I feel that no one person knows everything. No one has a right saying that they can brainwash kids. Parents simply just tell their kids how they feel, not how their kids should feel. At least in my family, I am allowed to make my own decisions on important issues and I do not even have to tell my parents any of them. For example, I chose to tell my mom who I voted for but she would not have cared either way. Nobody is perfect. Nobody knows all the information in the world. Nobody should be brainwashing others to believe what they want them to. Simple as that.
The statement that college professors have little impact on the political views of their students seems misleading to me. I have very liberal political views. I supported Obama fully in the prior election. I have had these views since I started thinking about politics early in high school. Sam has impacted my views somewhat. I was in support of gay marriage but unsure about gay partnership rights because of how this system can be abused to give benefits to people who are not truly gay but only posing as such for their own financial advantage. Sam’s views have made me more liberal if anything. So that goes against the statement that professors have little impact. However, I took a Cultures class at Lehigh University when I was in high school and had an extremely conservative professor. His views on just about everything were completely different than were Sam’s. He was against gay marriage, and very supportive of the republican platform at the time. None of the views this professor expressed in our Cultures class rubbed off on me. Since Sam’s views have rubbed off on me a little I believe that professors can affect their students’ views if the views are somewhat shared. If a professor and a student have totally opposite views then it would be much more difficult and less likely that a professor impact their students’ views.
I am fearful at the thought that there are students that walk talk and act because that’s “how they were brought up.” While I have to give my parents a nod for my manners, for the way I may prepare a certain dish, or even down to the kind of toilet paper I buy – I cannot say that my political beliefs have anything to do with what they believe in. In fact, they are staunch Republicans while I maintain a … how do you say? More liberal approach to things.
It is eye opening to read this, and think “why are we here at college?” At first, hearing that professors aren’t swaying people’s views sounds like a great thing. However, after thinking about it. What are professors doing then? Is it merely just a recitation of facts, to be brain dumped after the last test? If we aren’t swayed by what our professors are doing, how can we even call ourselves ‘educated?’ when we listen to what mommy and daddy said, many of which grew up in a completely different generation, and still have yet to adapt to the current ongoing trends.
If this is truly the case – that parents hold more influence on their children’s beliefs than the more educated, paid professionals do, all I can say is the parents better get with the times. It’s a lot different than it was when you were our age and our beliefs be they political, religious, anything need to reflect that and take that into consideration.
My parents have never been very political. My mother actually waited until Election Day to decide whom she voted for, and my dad didn’t really discuss this election at all. So naturally, I’ve always searched for political information from someone other than my parents, since they didn’t really want to talk about it. Since I never really had any influence from my parents, I really just kind of fell into being on the liberal side of things. I guess I should be thanking them for letting me find my own views instead of imposing views on me while I was growing up.
This past election season was a total doozy though – it was my first time voting, and I wanted to be sure that I was voting for the person that I connected with the most. So I searched the media top to bottom, researched constantly, read liberal and conservative blogs and news sites. Along with all that, I listened to what my professors had to say on the subject. Two of them didn’t say anything at all. The other three were adamant about getting out to vote and pretty gung-ho about the election, no matter who they were personally voting for. If anything, the professors that I’ve had this semester stressed the important of performing the civil duty of voting. When I discussed this with my parents, there was no reaction of “oh those liberal professors!” They were happy that someone was encouraging voter turnout. In the end, it wasn’t my professors who swayed my vote, but they swayed my decision to vote. They reminded me just how important voting is – so how can that be a “liberal professor agenda”?
I don’t think that most parents are not informed enough to share their opinions with their children. Sure, there are some people who do not know a lot about the issues, but they still have the right to share their thoughts with their kids. People our age (and going to college) should be old enough to make the choice to agree or disagree with those views. There are enough different opinions at a college campus that people will not be bombarded by only one view all the time. Maybe students are not being influenced by professors, but then who’s to say they are being influenced by parents? I think college students are still finding their political voice, and when you are practically getting attacked by various viewpoints, it becomes very confusing. Anyone has the right to share their opinions with people, but others do not have to agree, no matter how valid their points may be. However, I think there is also something about knowing that someone else is trying to win them over that is unattractive. I think that people are aware that they are easily influenced enough in life that they try to prevent that from happening as much as possible.
In the blurb about whether or not professors “brainwash” their students I would just like to start out by saying that if you are between the ages of 18 and 22 and you do not have the mental capacity to form your own opinion about the many various issues in the world today then you definitely need help. Although it is possible for a professor to persuade a student on an issue that he or she does not know a great deal about. But can this persuasion be skewed a bit to the direction of the professor’s stance? Of course it can but this is where you, the student, come into play. If you care enough to have an opinion about a certain topic then you have to do substantial research to form a well-educated opinion. You cannot just base your opinion on the beliefs of a professor or a news station; you have to consume yourself in every angle of the topic. And go into these sources with a bit of skepticism, not all people are gurus on a particular topic and they themselves could have the facts wrong. Not even your dear old parents can be considered as a completely bias and factual resource. I know that for the majority of your life your parents have been guiding you and telling you right from wrong but even they have their own opinions. There will come a time in your life that you will not have your parents for guidance so it is imperative that you grow your wings and fly out of the nest. And as for that moving picture box on your wall, there are numerous channels and programs that present their own opinions to all of those who are watching. This is fine though because it is a wonderful example of freedom of speech. There will always be more than one side to every story and it is healthy for the general public to get several different angles. What I am trying to say here is that as a college level individual you should be educated on the topics that you have an opinion about and this education should come from more than just one source.
Speaking from a standpoint considering the developmental gifts given by our parents: Parents are mentors that shape our minds and opinions. They invest large quantities of time in our learning, care deeply about our future, and hope that their lessons stick. Parents check in with us to make sure we’re doing alright. They talk with us, and help us to grow. Really, how different then are professors from parents? When parents send their kids off to college, they’re intrusting a set of highly educated individuals to help their children develop their minds.
I know that I have been significantly influenced by my professors and by my parents. I feel that my professors have picked up where my parents left off. It’s been more of a transition then a relearning. I feel that my professors have encouraged me to question and explore my beliefs and understandings. Some have changed, but most have been strengthened by the critical analysis process I’ve used to analyze my beliefs. I suppose this is the scary part: that children may come back thinking differently then they were originally programmed. If life is a never ending learning process though, as our parents have taught us, perhaps we all have something to learn from our professors.
Though this article was a little extreme, I did find much truth in. I believe the classroom should be a place for open and honest discussion, an exchange of ideas, and a challenge to the intellect. And with these kinds of dynamics occurring in the classroom, the sway of the teacher’s opinion on the students is completely dependent on the individual student themselves. While some students might be very impressionable, not thinking for themselves, may go along fully to what a professor professes as truth, whereas a more learned individual may take the professors words and incorporate them into their own world, accepting what seems to make sense over what might not make so much sense. It is up to the student to think for themselves, and not be persuading by whatever a teacher says. At the same time, I feel that professors should have the right to say whatever they want to in class, as long as in turn they accept the same back from the students. Our professor Sam remarks a lot about very social and moral issues, and I think its fair and realistic for him to throw around his opinion to the students in class, I would not want it any other way. This article makes a good point, its this professors job to learn about race relations, he is an expert on it, so we should take his opinion seriously and respect what he has to say, at least as much as we respect what our parents teach us.
I believe that most of people’s political views come from a multitude of sources. In deciding who I would cast my ballot for I could not think of one source that had a superior influence on me, however I did care what my professors had to say. I agree with the fact that our professors are educated and experienced professionals, and that their ideas might be notable to listen to. Reflecting back, it never even occurred to me that I should ask my parents who they were voting for, turns out they choose a different candidate than I had. As far as parenthood is considered I think family is a unique and complex system. Parents can tell their children whatever they want, narrow minded or not, and I think that parents influence is a very strong, scary and powerful thing. While I did listen to my professors thoughts on the election, I found that many of them did not want to influence me in anyway, most never even mentioned who their candidates were. I felt as if we were deprived on some level from their lack of enlightenment into the election. But on the other hand I can see how they would want us to think for ourselves and deduce who our own candidates should be. One other source of influence that I noticed on our campus was simply the large amounts of campaigning for Obama, it was like a version of real life spam. Flyers were constantly under my door and in my mailbox with a constant parade of students and other volunteers expressing the pros of their candidate and cons of the other. This type of campaigning disgusted me. I no longer felt like an individual but just felt part of the mass that could have a large effect on the outcome. In conclusion I cannot directly point to one thing and say “that is what persuaded me to vote” but I would like to comment and say that I’ve learned a lot from my lectures whether it was on the exam or not, and I would like to have heard my professors speak a little bit more about the election.
First of all, I love that Sam is in the book “101 Most Dangerous Professors.” Second, when I first took Sam’s Soc 001 class last year, I thought he was trying to convince us (his students) to follow his beliefs and sway us towards his opinion. Now, I think I was wrong. I am currently a student in his Soc 119 class, and I’m a TA and tutor for his Soc 001 class this semester. I’ve gotten to know Sam better as a professor and as a person and I no longer think he is purposely trying to sway us.
However, reading this blog, I agree with Sam, he is more qualified to give us his opinion than a lot of other people that we get opinions from. My parents not only try to sway my opinion but tell me that their choice for president (for example) is correct. The news TV shows, as informative as they are, are trying to entertain you and get more viewers as opposed to really showing you the pros and cons of specific candidates. I think I allow myself to be swayed a little bit by all of my professors but I take everything they say with a grain of salt, I check their facts and form my own opinions.
I don't feel brainwashed by listening to professors speak. I know that they are educated people who know what they are talking about which is why I'm going to school in the first place to learn from the professors. On the other hand politics is always a touchy subject and I don't know why. I know that in my family you better know what your talking about if you say something about it, or you'll get ripped apart right there at Christmas dinner! Also, for me, I don't know a lot about politics so for the most part I am out of that conversation. But I won't be this year. Having been a voter of the winning president I have something to bring to that table along with some of the teachings that I truly did learn in the Soc 119 classroom. Learning from professors is only brainwash if you let it be. You listen and make personal opinions in your head about things you accept that the professor said, and other things that you almost immediately erase that you even heard. There's nothing wrong with listening and learning from professors because that's what we are all here to do!
I for one do not condone the use of a university classroom as a political forum. However, the life purpose of our respected and beloved professors is to educate us on things that we can use to put us ahead and set us apart in our everyday lives.
Regardless of whether Sam, or any other professor for that matter, thinks that we may not be listening, we certainly do hear what they are saying. Just as with our parents, we look to our professors for guidance and perceive them as our mentors, in the classroom and in life. We take bits and pieces of their beliefs and incorporate them into our own.
Growing up, we hear our parents’ opinions, including the political ones. In turn, these help us shape our own about many issues. But often, our parents’ opinions can be very one-sided. My father is a conservative businessman who generally votes along party lines just for the sake of keeping Republicans in office who will allow him to hold on to his hard-earned money. On the other hand, my mother is a bleeding heart liberal teacher who votes time and again for education reforms and tax cuts. While I have been fortunate enough to have been exposed to both ends of the spectrum, many young adults my age have not.
I think that professors, though they are notoriously liberal, can often provide a refreshing outsider perspective. Even though they may express their opinions about their political favoritism, they often provide their students with nonpartisan information that truly lets them form their own views on many issues.
I don’t necessarily think that professors should sway students’ opinions, or that they necessarily can, but if we cannot look to them for guidance, who are we to rely on?
-Kristin McLaughlin
I believe that our professors can be the most influential people in our lives, if we allow them to be. Before taking this class I heard about Sam and what a cool professor he was which is what has happened for a few of my other classes as well. I chose to take the class for the professor. And what I have learned would not be remotely the same without the professor. It doesn’t matter if your learning rocket science, modern politics or cooking, the professor is the key component in your learning process. No matter what people may say they know they are highly influenced by them- how could you not be? There is an entire book on the most “dangerous” professors and when I hear dangerous I think wow I want that professor. I love to get a new perspective, to have a reality shifted in a way that I could never have known before. Yes, I could get my information from my parents, which I do for a lot of issues. However, if everyone only listened to their parents everyone in their family tree would just be a clone of one another. I think that he only way to truly see something is from the third party of a professor. You don’t need to agree or even like what they have to say but it’s the only way to learn.
Sam, your political opinions registered not even a blip on my radar. You have a thought, you know something is not right but you do not know what to do with it…
And I want to truly thank you for having the courage to tell us that you simply do not know (although I am much in doubt that you see it as anything so monumental as courage). So many professors that I have had here at Penn State and in high school have spewed their political views and attempted to force it down our throats even when it is the most unworthy and transparent dogma. And on top of that, they brush us aside when attempt any rebuttal.
I do agree with you that it is a good thing in many ways for students to be exposed all sides of an argument. In fact, I grew up with extremely liberal parents, and my life-long best friend’s parents, whose house I spent and still spend a great deal of time at, are extremely conservative. I think that begin exposed to these two perspectives has granted me the ability to form truly independent opinions. Yet, I see so many people my age who seem incapable of a unique and independent thought. They latch onto whoever speaks the loudest to their basic ideals. Too many of my peers are mindless lemmings and far too moldable at this age to trust that any intellectual is fit to shape them. I am thankful for professors such as you who encourage independent thoughts and opinions but not all are so open-minded and willing to listen.
This issue really got my attention right off the bat. I have some mixed feelings on the subject. I agree with Sam on the fact that our professors often are much better educated on the topics being debated than our own parents might be. However, I have experienced professors subtlety incorporating their political agendas into classroom material in a very one-sided manner. It has become quite upsetting to me. Nevertheless, I believe that the way Sam incorporates politics into his discussions is very different. He is very open-minded and approaches almost every debate with the mindset that there can be truth and reason on either side. I think we need more professors like this. I am very glad that I was taking Soc 119 during this past election. I think it really helped me discover how I thought deep down about many issues. I AM NOT SAYING THAT SAM INFLUENCES MY POLITICAL VIEWS IN ANY WAY. He simply helped me discover my own beliefs by informing me in an un-biased manner on many of the important issues we face today. As Sam said in his blog entry, it is very difficult to find un-bias information in this day. I feel like I can’t even completely trust my family members anymore in this matter. We all grew up being taught that everything your parents tell you is correct. So it is easy to grow up with the same one-sided opinions as your parents. This is why I think it is a good idea to discuss political views in the classroom. This is true only as long as the professors are educated enough to provide the fact that there are two sides to every story. By keeping classrooms completely object we continue to ignore the complete truth.
Teachers are people too. They have opinions, feelings, passions, likes and dislikes…and should feel completely comfortable expressing these things with their students. The best learning experiences I’ve ever had were through professors who really let their personalities shine through their teaching. And I think forbidding teachers from expressing their political views can really hinder that. A person’s political beliefs are so integral to their being – they are made up of their personal values, morals, and aspirations. I think that teachers have every right to talk about their political beliefs in the classroom. Unless a professor discriminates against students who don’t agree with him or her, I don’t have a problem with it. Some students are too lazy or apathetic to go out and learn about political issues, and this is sad because very often these things have direct impacts on their lives and futures. Perhaps a teacher expressing their own views will inspire those students to go out and find their own opinions. And if anyone really believes that a teacher explaining their beliefs will turn their students into their own personal army of political zombies…well honestly it’s just condescending. I know that I am capable of forming informed opinions of my own, listening to opposing viewpoints respectfully, and taking them for what they’re worth…and I’d like to think that my peers can do the same. I just wish that the people who so strongly oppose teachers taking any kind of political stand would think it as well.
Lauren Mullin
While I agree that many parents may have little information on complex issues, and some end up imposing their views on their children just because of the privilege that comes with being a parent, I don’t think this is necessarily how people obtain their views. Speaking from experience, the information my parents gave me when I was young was less about their unwavering opinions on things and more information about topics in general. Given this information, I was able to start to build a foundation for forming opinions on those and other topics I came across. It’s not to say that some parents impose such strong views on children from such a young age that they never move beyond those thought, but for the most part I think parents are the building blocks. That is also how I see the opinions of friends, relatives, and professors. The ability to really hear what people are saying and take it in and use it or discard it comes from within. People mold other’s thoughts in ways that are suited to themselves, for good or bad. I don’t think that parents with narrow views will necessarily impose those onto their children, it depends on what the children take away from what is being said. I do think that some professors may open people’s eyes more than their parents may have, but that too is only a small piece of how people make up their minds on certain topics.
So far, this has been the most thought provoking and interesting blog posted yet. Where do we as students and citizens of this country receive our information? I think that it is wrong to say that we should only listen to one source period, or one source more than the other, because inevitably everyone has an opinion and to an extent there is some truth in all. In the matter of whether to listen to your professor rather than media and other individuals, makes me think somewhat. On a personal level, I take each opinion with a grain of salt. I don’t believe that a professor’s words should be held any higher than any other individual (with reason), because in all reality a professor is a simple man or woman with a simple opinion. This also held me to bring up the question, if we should hold our professor’s words higher than someone else’s, than that brings me to the question, where does our professor get his information? I understand that years of experience and analyzing goes into becoming a teacher, but there is no source of knowledge so pure that one individual can hold the answers. A professor is a person, a person who searches for the truth and passes on the knowledge, but just the same as any other person; they go through biased information and have biased opinions. I do think that our professor has done a fantastic job with presenting the facts in order for us to make up our own opinions, but I do not agree that an opinion stated by the professor should be taken as gold. What should be taken as gold, is the information presented. How the professor feels about a situation has nothing to do with my decision on anything, just as anyone else’s opinion. The information and the situations presented behind those opinions are what matters to me. So when I think about people bickering about whose opinion we should listen to, I think about how self-centered a society can be at times. What does it matter who says the information? What matters is the information being presented by those individuals. And with that said, I agree that Sam has done a great job in scoping out useful information, more than various news sources, and most of the time anyway, you should develop your opinion based on information not on opinions.
I agree and disagree with this blog. I do take into consideration the thoughts and views of my professors, mostly because they have degrees in the information that they are teaching. I am the kind of person who enjoys listening to the views of others, even if they are completely different than mine, because these different views make me think outside my norm. I tend to sit outside Willard before my classes just to hear different views of different preachers. Although I find most of these speeches to be very one sided (with that side being Christian) these speeches make me think.
Unfortunately, I know many narrow minded people (that were probably brian washed by their narrow minded parents) that refuse to think outside their norm. They will pay to sit in classes that they will get nothing out of. Sadly, I do know college students that do watch the Cobert Report and the Daily Show for their daily news briefing. I am offended by the remarks that all college students, get political information from the Daily Show and from ‘narrow-minded’ parent. Not all college students are like this. I have my own thoughts and views of my own. I get my information about politics from credible sources such as CNN and various newspaper. My parents are both educated and are very open to new ideas and change. We do talk often about politics but they are open to views that are different than theirs. If we all can just open our eyes and ears to views that are different than what they normally think, I believe we can all become more well rounded individuals.
Where I do think many students are not influenced by a professor’s political views, I also believe many are influenced by teachers. Although some students do research political topics and make choices for themselves, there are other students who depend solely on things they hear from others. The information students hear from others isn’t always true, however, that is how they base their opinions. I do not believe teachers lie about certain topics, but I do believe that everyone holds biased opinions. No matter the subject material most people form opinions on a subject and when they talk about that subject it is somewhat unbalanced.
I do not believe the political views of teachers should be discussed in the classroom setting. Talking politics one-on-one with a student is different than announcing your views in front of an entire class. The New York Times is a pretty reliable source; however, I would have to wonder how many studies have found the opposite. Personally it bores me to listen to a teacher talk about politics when it is not a subject of the class. In this year’s election, it is important to talk about the historical significance of the race; however, it is not important for a teacher to talk about their own political views. I think students who decide not to research topics can be easily influenced by a teacher’s opinion.
Many things affect a person's views and decisions when it comes to elections, behaviors, issues, or anything for that matter. To say that students, specifically, should rely heavily on their professor's opinions and views when making decisions on any matter seems very close-minded and unrealistic. Who’s to say that a professor is more informed on an issue than someone's parents, friends, or anyone else? Although I do admit that many media sources are often incredibly biased and are not very reliable sources, they also have a strong influence on many people. I found it particularly interesting that this blog talks so negatively on the views of people’s parents. While it may not always be the case, many adults are well informed on political issues and are good sources to draw information from. I know personally my parents are very well informed and updated on the political issues in the world today, particularly around election time. I definitely was influenced by their views when voting, but my views are also very in-line with theirs. If this is considered a negative thing in some people’s minds, so be it, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with children establishing their views from the influence of their parents.
This post is very interesting. Personally, I think it’s the job of the professor NOT to influence students when it comes to politics. They are simply supposed to present both sides of the story and stimulate the students' mind to choose a view. In fact, when a professor in any class tries to push his or her political views I am immediately turned off. Sometimes that irritates me so much that I actually feel myself supporting the opposite side of the argument that the professor is trying to portray. This is obviously another way how professors can influence a student but not a logical one. I also think parents have a right to express their political views to their children because many political issues affect the family as a whole and not just the individual. A professor does not have this type of relationship where they are directly affecting the person they are trying to influence. Professors who attempt to influence a student’s political views lose my respect in that that is not their job. Again, they are supposed to stimulate the students’ minds. This is done by giving them facts and information to analyze so they can come up with a decision of their own.
I find this blog very interesting, but I really do not think students are swayed by their professor’s opinions. I definitely have appreciated Sam’s honest political opinion throughout the semester, and do realize that he’s a very educated person. However, all of my other professors have been very hesitant to bring up the issue of politics, and I think this is probably a good thing. Sam says, “So I'm left to wonder about what students are learning in the classroom if they do not follow their professor's direction on political concerns.” Well, students are learning what they’re supposed to be learning. Not all classes are political science oriented, and I do not want politics to somehow sneak its way into each of my classes. We’re in college now, and I think we deserve some credit. We can find honest, unbiased information outside of classes; and many times, this includes our parents (not all parents are, in fact, Fox News brainwashed conservatives or Daily Show watching liberals). I do not want to take anything away from Sam, I know he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to politics. But, I think if a student really wants to hear his opinion, or any other professor’s opinion regarding politics for that matter, he/she should go to office hours and discuss it there.
So this is quite the interesting point. I think the idea of "keeping politics out of the classroom" is more about the fact that students pay money to listen to lectures on the material that is appropriate for that particular class. We expect to hear about Calculus in Calc class and Emily Dickinson in English. I believe that a Political Science or Sociology professor has the right to talk politics and give opinions (english professors give their opinions on literature all the time) I think that this only becomes a problem when professors use class time to push their own agenda. That's what I think this is all about. I think that sure, parents are biased, but so are professors, and even Dr. Richards. The idea here is that everything is biased, and students need to learn to evaluate everyone's opinions for what they are... opinions. Personally, I believe that professors have as much of a right to talk politics out of the classroom with students as anyone else. And I agree, many professors do have a much more intelligent and well research stance than some parents, still this does not allow them to preach to their classes. Inherently, I believe that each individual’s viewpoint, no matter how educated and informed that person is, is ultimately a biased one.
Sam’s blog “Professors Do Not Seem to Sway Student Opinions” brings up an issue which I feel is very important and pertinent, yet under-discussed. Just how heavily should educators try to influence their students and just how neutral should they stay while giving their students the necessary information to make their own decisions? I have to agree with Sam on this one. It is wrong that educators should feel any sort of pressure to not be political in their teachings. If professors have to be cautious of what they say, it will naturally cause them to leave out some of their opinions, possibly causing students to miss out on important information which they otherwise would have received. Sam is the type of teacher who says what he thinks regardless, and I respect him for that. That is one of the reasons why I enjoy his class so much more than my other classes. Since he is not scared to get political or personal, he is able to relay his ideas and knowledge to his classes in a complete matter.
I strongly agree that if our teachers are not the ones instructing us on political issues or any other issues, for that matter, who is the one who should be teaching our youth? I think it should be the educators. What are we paying these people for if they cannot even do their job to best of their abilities because they are worried about persuading students one way or the other on issues? Bottom line is, if we want to enhance academia throughout America, it has to become socially acceptable for teachers to be able to not only share facts, but to provoke thoughts and instill opinions so the students can ultimately make their own choice.
“Professors do not seem to sway student opinion.” That statement terrifies me. What the hell do people come to college for if their not going to be persuaded away from their parents and friends opinions of life and the world. Parents and friends can influence people but their opinions should not be held in higher regard than educated professors who are experts in particulars fields.
I think people should go to a trade school if they just want to learn a skill. College is a place to hear opinions and agree or disagree with them to advance themselves as human beings. People that I know from back home that haven’t had the opportunity to attend college have more or less stopped their intellectual development and some are near clones of their parents. So I have to agree with Sam fully on this one. Students need to take the opportunity to let themselves be swayed by professors and weigh these opinions instead of relying on parents’ inadequate opinions. Otherwise, all that money spent on college will have been for nothing. Stubborn individuals who stick to their parents wisdom may well have stayed home and let their parents teach them about engineering, business, or architecture, regardless if they’re experts in those fields or not.
In my response to this entry I would have to say that I completely agree with Sam. I think that professors especially ones like Sam are extremely influential in what there students think. If you only listen to your parents, or you only get your information about the world from one source, that is such a bias one sided view of the world. In my opinion you go to college to learn about life and gain a different perspective on the world. A lot of times this is the first time that students are really on there own for the first time in there lives. They all live with kids there own age, hang out on weekends with kids there own age, and are actually completely surrounded by kids who are going through the same things that they are. So professors, at least in my opinion, are the only authority figure that we have to listen to sometimes. We trust that they are teaching us the right math problems and the right things about history and physics, so why would we not trust there political views. I think that professors are excellent people to look up to and take advice from, especially at a college such as Penn State. You have to be extremely intelligent and worldly to become a professor so I think that there advice might sometimes be a thousand times better then what ever your parents or the news show that you are watching are saying.
I found this post to be exactly what I think Sam would say about the topic having taken his class all semester. I wish I could hear the responses of all of the other professors that were listed in this book as being “the worst professors” because I like to think that many of them would be professors like Sam. I definitely think that Sam presented a very unbiased argument for all of the potential candidates running in this election. I think that only having your parent’s political views to listen to is completely biased because they generally do not break down each political candidate and see what they are really about. As a professor, I agree completely, it is their job to break down every aspect of a topic to stipulate and instigate the inner workings of any topic to make their students think deeper about the issue and to really question the values and morals of the decisions students make.
After hearing Sam’s lecture I am still happy with my voting decision, and feel as though despite the possibility of getting a biased opinion from my family members of the media, I made the choice, that to me, was the best.
I think that this statement about professors not swaying their students opinions can go both ways. Like I have already read in some of the posted blogs, for many if not most students this is their first time away from home where they are introduced to a whole new world of people who have many different views on life. I think this is a point in many young adults lives where they strive to really grow into the person that that are going to be for the rest of their lives. I don’t necessarily think that professors "sway" their opinions, if anything challenges them to think in ways they never have before. This may open their eyes to agree on with other people’s views or it may make them feel as though they have a different viewpoint. Either way I believe it is a growing experience. Maybe some students do get easily persuaded and go along with what everyone else is saying and lets that go to their head before getting the chance to form their own opinions and views but this to me is seen as a growing experience.
I think the hardest part is when you start to branch off and realize that what you thought you believed for example ideals that your parents have installed in your mind as to what is right and wrong may start to change at this phase of a young person’s life. I wouldn't consider it as the idea of being easily swayed but for some it may take that to come to a realization as to what your true beliefs are. The true test is if you can stand up for those beliefs and be confident in doing that.
I do not think there is anything wrong with Sam presenting his views to the class. There is a fine line in the professor student relationship though. The way Sam criticized and reflected upon politicians was equally biased towards every side. He does not blatantly favor any side and he does not shove his views into our heads in any way shape or form. If a professor started to preach their ideas in that fashion, it would definitely be inappropriate and quite frankly, it would be really annoying. Unless you are teaching a class on politics, your students do not need you to scream your ideas in front of a lecture hall until you can bend them to your will. Students are influenced simply by walking to class and taking in all the billboards and seeing advertisements on television and the news. If a student wants to hear the opinion of a professor in more detail it would be perfectly fine for them to approach the professor and ask their opinion on any matters that they feel would be something they want to discuss. I liked the blog that Sam wrote on this topic and I do feel that if a parent is not educated on a subject they should not try to influence their children just because they feel like they can. Let your kids make their own decisions. If you have ideas to express to them than that is fine but no one should be pressured into their own opinions.
In some ways I am somewhat surprised by the research that teachers don’t have a very large impact on the political views of college students, but in some ways I am definitely not surprised. I think that a major attribute to this is the state of mind that many college students have when they first get into college. almost all college students enter their first year of school gaining the most independence they have ever had in their whole life. for the last four years they have had their high-school teachers cramming curriculum into their heads and not having many really good opinions or intellectual arguments on political issues because high school teachers are sometimes forced to be too politically correct and students get into a habit of tuning out empty arguments. In college, when professors are allowed to really push the envelope when it comes to the topics addressed in classes, I think many students might still be in the habit of tuning out what their professors have to say and moving on. I agree with Sam on this topic though. I think that professors, especially those in positions and with experiences like Sam, are huge wells of knowledge and insight when it comes to issues like politics. To be honest, most of the time I disagreed with Sam on a lot of issues brought up in class. However, I was always interested and eager to hear what he had to say, because I really respect his credentials and know he is talking from a position of experience and has been around the block.
I am very shocked by this post. I am personally not much into politics at all but really tried to get into it since this was the first presidential election I was able to be a part of. I did definitely listen to my parent’s views and knew who they were going to vote for, but a lot of things I learned from my professors. One professor in particular this semester made us read the USA Today every week and would always show us a short news clip in class about what was going on with the election. He would give us information about both candidates and both parties equally. Some things that he told us I never knew and really took them into consideration. I know that he is very involved with politics and knows a lot about it. My parents knew a lot too but they were also very biased and would tell me mostly about the person they were voting for and bashing the other. I think that the research was totally absurd because I think that a lot of people, whether they realize it or not, listen to a lot of what their professors say and sway to believe them.
This expresses my daily frustrations. Almost every bigoted person that I ask to explain their reasoning, either can't or says that is how their parents feel or say that it is because of how/where they were raised. That seems a little ridiculous considering that we are adults, living on our own in the real world. Are you all really going to use this excuse for the rest of your life? I find this a rather pathetic justification for anything, especially for hate.
Then I step back and realize that almost every passion, belief and moral I have learned from my parents. I discovered many of my truths on my own – or so I thought – but still they run parallel to how my parents raised me and what they believe. This makes me first off feel fortunate that I have such open minded and loving parents. Secondly, however, it makes me question how I should feel about people who didn’t have parents that were as unprejudiced. Should people be blamed for the brainwashing that happens to them? I believe that at a certain age people need to begin to question all that they know to be true, and discover for themselves what they think. But should I blame people who don’t feel the same as me? Or who aren’t as focused on getting to know themselves and the world around them? Who am I to tell them to think like me?
Ultimately, however, I think that there is no excuse for hate, especially unquestioned hate that comes from parents.
I feel like I group in a much different household than most people. That is a pretty general statement, but I stand by it. No matter how hard we try, we are, in large part, a product of our parent’s tendencies and behaviors. My parents, however, allowed me to figure most things out for myself. Of course they gave me their opinion, they had to they are my parents. But they never made me go to church. Instead, when I was old enough to understand what religion was and the power it has over people, they took me to a bunch of different services and let me figure out for myself what I wanted to believe. After going to all of the services, we all sat down and had a long discussion about what I felt and thought, and they helped me sort it all out. But I never felt pressured to conform to their beliefs or political views or whatever. My will was my own and to be determined by myself and my experiences, not the experiences of my parents. And for this I thank them, because I think that parents want their kids to be a certain way so badly, that they often put too much pressure on them and the kids end up turning out completely different anyways. I am going to let my kids be whoever they are going to be, just like my parents did.
College students are becoming increasingly more independent on their political views, and due to this, professors are especially less likely to have their own political views imprinted on the minds of their students. I feel that this is a good thing. Obviously, professors are there to help shape and direct students in the supposed “right” direction, but this is all dependant on the professors opinions. Unless the professor is teaching a political science class, I feel that their political views are irrelevant. Even in a setting such as Soc 119, political views are irrelevant. Different views should be expressed and the facts should be stated, but to brainwash a student to follow something dogmatically would be irresponsible as an educator. In a class such as math and science; clearly such talk shouldn’t even be expressed. As I stated earlier, professors are there to help shape and educate young adults to a have a better worldly knowledge. Children shouldn’t be brainwashed to their professors view, nor should they be brainwashed to follow their parents. Only through a culmination of both, along with other sources, can a young adult truly achieve better understanding. It’s not necessarily about making someone believe the same things you believe, but to give them that knowledge and allow them to make their own rational decisions.
I was raised by conservative parents, and I have one sibling, a brother who is the world’s biggest Republican. My whole childhood I soaked up conservative theology, but when I started listening to a little band called Bad Relgion, that changed everything for me. Not only was I seeing the extreme conservative side of the story, but also now I was being exposed to the extreme liberal side of the story.
And I started to find that both ends of the spectrum were pretty close-minded.
As someone who is officially registered to vote as a non-affiliate, I don’t have the usual outlook on politics that most people have. So I soak up political opinions of people from all over the place, internalize them, and then (if I feel I have enough information) assert my own opinion from there.
I take the opinions of my professors, as learned experts, into careful consideration, although sometimes I simply tune out these opinions, no matter what side of the aisle they fall on. Sam, however, is a teacher that I have stolen an idea from. I love his terms “Republocrat” and “Dempublican.” For me, he hit the nail right on the head there; that’s something I’ve always believed but have never been able to articulate so accurately… so I found myself using those terms frequently in political discussions with my friends.
So while I don’t follow my parents’ political ideas, I don’t always follow my professors’ either. I’d rather form my opinions myself than have my party or someone else form them for me, but when someone’s right, they’re right, and I’ll take their cue.
This is a very important question to consider; where do we get our knowledge from? I'd like to first start this response by stating that I do not believe you can be a completely unbiased person, no matter what you are discussing. Everyone has their own specific views and subconsciously transfers their personal beliefs when talking to others, no matter how "unbiased" they are trying to be. I believe that many classes I have taken at Penn State, including SOC 119 has taught me to be aware of all of the bias we encounter in our daily lives. Sam believes that we should look at as much different information as possible, and then come to informed decisions about what we believe to be true. I think this is the best way to approach this issue. Relating back to the question that I started my response with, I think that we get our knowledge from all sorts of different venues, inside the classroom and out. But it is our responsibility to build "filters" if you will, to help us come to educated conclusions. As far as what we learn from our parents, I believe that there are tons and tons of parents out there are not even prepared to have children, much less properly educate them. This is why I hate it when people believe exactly what there parents believe because that is most convenient, and do not take the time to figure out and experience things for themselves.
I think that parents do have a big influence on their kids’ political views. I personally know that my political views have been influenced by my parents. I have been immersed in their views my entire life and listen to them talk about who they support and who they do not. I have come to accept these views and I support the same things that they do. Since I have these political views which I have taken to be my own I do not really pay attention to when a teacher or professor tries to influence me by giving their political view which is the opposite of my views. I just push them aside and give them no time. So I can see how the New York Times can say that professors do not seem to sway the student’s opinions. If a professor starts to say something that I do not agree with I just do not pay attention to them because I do not want to get mad and say something that could hurt me. Parents do have the most influence over their kids and that is why many kids happen to share the same political views as their parents. This is because that is the environment that they grew up in and this is what they have become accustomed to and what they know.
While I too find the political shows aimed toward young adults, like The Daily Show or The Colbert Report entertaining, it's a little scary to realize that the majority of young adult voters rely solely on these shows for their source of presidential candidate information. Granted, there are plenty of college students who go above and beyond on the search for information, but the rest of us are just apathetic or too lazy to do any research on our own. So when we watch these shows, we take the (clearly biased) opinions as the gospel truth. I’ve even heard one person say, “Well Jon Stewart is clearly Democratic and Stephen Colbert is obviously Republican, so by watching them both, I can get both sides of the story”….really? Yes, both of them do provide us with some information on each candidate, but they also omit and skew facts to make the show entertaining. They’re on Comedy Central…the point of the shows are to be entertaining, not educational. You’d think by now, being in college and all, we’d come to realize that you can’t always believe what you hear, and you always always always need to get more than one source of information before you form your opinion. TV, the internet, candidates’ websites, parents, friends, debates, professors: these are all good sources of information, yet none of them are full and complete sources. So I’m glad that professors are not swaying the opinions of students, because I don’t believe that any one source of information should have the power to sway a vote. As (hopefully intelligent) students, we need to seek out many different views and opinions, seeing all the possible sides, before forming our own opinions, instead of just being little lambs, following the leader.
I think this post is interesting because I believe that there are several reasons why it seems professors do not seem to sway the opinions of their students.
First off, most students are not conscious. They are unaware of what's going on in the world. They cannot separate fiction from fact. Most students look for security within what their parents dream up for them. Therefore, most students feel obligated to please their parents. That means valuing what your taught to value, believing what you were raised to believe, thinking what you were programmed to think. Also, once a student has graduated high school and moved on to university, they tend to think they have all figured out. Or, thats what they want everyone else to believe. So trying to sway them becomes nearly impossible.
Secondly, most professors lack the want or need to relate to their audience, their students. It seems most professor have forgotten where they came from and what they were going through at the ages of 18 to 25. Most professor do not care about their students nor do they have the passion to teach. They may be passionate about what their teaching but not who they are teaching it to. In order to teach, you have to be willing to also learn. In order to sway an opinion you have to listen and be willing to have your opinion swayed.
If there was more conversing in the classroom, this wouldnt be a problem.
The blog raises the question “Where are students receiving their information if not from professors?” However for those who are politically challenged are their views shaped by the facts or by their of personal beliefs? Political discussions rarely occurred in my household ,and if they did the conversation barely lasted ten minutes. My parents never enforced their political views upon me and hardly even shared them. To be honest I do not know if they are both democrat or republican; I am assuming democrat. Religious views also remained slightly personal in my family. “If you want to vote then vote” “ If you want to learn more about God, then come to church with me” These were some of their philosophies. No, my parents are not unconcerned about my future nor are they hardhearted parents; they simply respect the fact that I am an individual. They have offered open spaces for me to create my own pathways of beliefs with the assurance of their guidance. Accordingly I am a very open minded individual and believe majority of my views are shaped by my surroundings, race, class, gender, the media, and not parental imposition. Of course everyone goes through the adolescent years where we abide by our parents no matter how bizarre or false the information may be. However at my current age I do not think this is still the case. Children usually branch away from their parents during their years or junior high school; at least I did. Moreover college is where individuals began to thoroughly challenge themselves and others. On the university level I find it difficult to believe that my beliefs are solely a result of my parents beliefs, especially after being exposed to so many different perspectives. This past election I did not vote. “how could you?“ you might ask. My decision was not based on lack of interest or believing my vote would not make a difference, but because I did not follow the election to my utmost. I refused to ballot an ignorant vote.
Political views aside, I think we can all agree with Dr. Richards when he says that both parties are just two sides of the same coin. The election of our first non-old-white-man president is monumental in that it will significantly change the social structure or our country when it comes to race relations, but I doubt it will do much for our nation's other faults. Every ruling state eventually crumbles, and the government of the United States is no exception. In the future, America will no longer be on top, oppressing those beneath. This can only mean that America will be the oppressed, unless our government stops its entirely capitalistic, profit-driven conduct. A true breakthrough would be a Native American president. The fact that Obama is half black hardly makes him Malcolm X. As cultures and races begin to converge and coexist equally (I'm speaking of blacks and whites in the U.S.), other races will rise and fall through the social strata. When we have the Dalai Lama as president, then I will be impressed. Our country was founded by faithful men, but the constitutional right to practice religion freely does not mean that our government should become some spiritless, money-driven automoton. All that being said, I voted for Barack simply because I knew that just by being elected, he would change things. And it's about time.
My father told me to always know both sides of a story before making an opinion. He is an avid reader and when it comes to politics, he has always researched both sides to really know all the options out there. So for me, I mostly did listen to him when it came to the election, but he would send me links to research and to read on my own and I always did. His vote was completely against Obama; nothing to do with race, just completely against a lot of his policies. On the other hand my mother would really only send me emails on how Sarah Palin didn't truly stand for the regular American woman. For example she is completely against the right to choose. So in that sense, she wasn't for putting McCain in office. But from researching and talking to some friends of mine, I have come to realize that I don't fall into either category and after discussing it with my dad, he completely agreed with me before I even said what I was going to say and that was that I'm Libertarian and so is he. Now when it comes to listening to what your professors have to say, my dad always said that all of my professors will probably be liberals and sometimes its better not to argue with them since they give out the grades. And being in this class with Sam as the professor I had a completely different college experience. He never told us who he was voting for before the election and always gave examples of both sides when it came to politics. Then the first class after the election he shared his vote, and it was for the Libertarian party and I really smiled inside... and out. And for that, I wish he really had said it before the election. Even though the other parties really don't have a shot, it opens up people to other parties that they don't ever think about or know about. I know for a fact that the things said in Soc 119 are always discussed outside the classroom with other friends, parents and students since there is so much to learn... all of it being really interesting. And so possibly after Sam said he voted Libertarian maybe people went out to look that up. With Sam Richards being the professor, I think "Professors Do Not Seem to Sway Student Opinions" counts because Sam will never fit into the stereotypical category with the other professors and I think some people really would have listened to him and maybe voted differently
In my family, things have always been a little different. I guess it really comes down to how families communicate with each other. Many immigrant families, especially from China and India, have high expectations for their children when it comes to getting an education. Now, I’m not saying that other families don’t have that as well, I’m just saying that coming from experience immigrant families tend to hold the value of education very high. In my family, education is everything and without it you’ll get nowhere. I don’t necessarily agree but for the good of the family I go along with it. What I’m trying to get to is that in my family, if I were to learn something in class, whether it be political views or not, chances are my teachers word will probably be stronger than my parents. I only say this because how much my parents value education and teaching. My mom wanted to become a teacher so I’m sure she’s biased in that way, but who isn’t? I do agree that many students these days are not getting their information from teachers or parents, but from the media. But personally, I tend to value the word of a well-rounded teacher over all the bullshit I hear on tv.
Parents and teachers, along with numerous other factors, influence college kids in their ways of thinking and acting. However, I think that although “most” parents may not think as Sam thinks, their opinions do matter. I feel that this opinion is perhaps a bit too harsh as no one is perfect. Both professors and parents will have “good” and “bad” advice to give to their children/students depending on the different situations that they face.
I personally value everyone’s opinion including my parents, family, friends, and professors. However, I am a firm believer that in the end, it is my life and therefore I will live it as I would like to live it, of course to the extent of living legally. Most of the things in your life have to be dealt at least directly by you and not these other individuals (excluding those closest to you).
I feel that everyone can learn a thing or two from everyone else and therefore we should all be open to other peoples’ opinions. Therefore, I can understand why an educator, such as Sam, feels the way he does by posting this to his blog. I mean how many kids truly take his lessons to heart and actually follow through with 100% of his advice such as stop consuming foods that are not “free trade.” However, I feel that individuals will always form their own opinions based on others advice because in the end, it is the individual who lives his or her life and not those giving them advice.
I found this entry very interesting, mainly because I am for and against your point. It is stated that students are not influenced by their professor’s political options, and they are more likely going to follow those of their parents. In a way, this is their background, how they were brought up and what identifies them.
You say that their parents tend to e biased therefore ill-informed, however, there are the exceptions, while professors tend to know more about the subject matter, and you use your self as an example. I say that I am for this point because I agree with you. Teachers tend to me more informed and tend to know more about political issues than peoples parents. You tend to look further than just the candidate and look at what they have to offer so you can make you pick. While for parents, it is mainly about the surface, what they see. Generally speaking, as we know that there are exceptions. They tend to chose candidates based on appearance or similarities that are noticeable rather than in-depth. So therefore, it would be better for a student to be politically influenced by professors.
However, I am also against this point because not all professors are like you, Sam, professors can also be just as biased as parents and then try to influence the student to vote for what they feel is right in their own opinion. So it would probably be better to be influence by something that relates to you or is similar.
So either way, there are advantages and disadvantages. All in all, It is probably better for the student not to be influenced by their parents and professors, they should be me influence to look up on all candidates then they make their pick based on what they believe in.
I think that parents have a large influence on their children on political issues, to a point. Parents have their child’s entire childhood (up until college) to fill their minds with information, how they do this is up to them. They can do it objectively but giving them all the information and tools to make their our decisions or they can impose their own views on them. Either way I think the economic and social background of the parents with always be imposed on the children, which is a large factor in making a political decision. When going to college I think it is a very interesting time for students when it comes to making political decisions. Student’s minds can be easily changed because they have not been stuck in their ways for years and normally are not well informed. The problem is college is also a time for rebellion, whether it is against their parents or their peers and this can also significantly alter their political choice. This is why the role of professors are very important. Professors have the opportunity to inform their students about the political platforms and can objectively spell out both sides. They can tell the students about the long-term effects of the decision of both officers running so the students can make a well-informed decision. Professors can do all this and the student pretty much has to listen, so they can choose whether they when to change their mind on the political parties. Professors have all these opportunities to help inform their students, but they can also use their position of power to influence their student to one side. I have to say I think this happens more often. Currently I am and architecture major and I find that teachers try to make you design a building that they like rather than one you like and this not only makes for an unhappy learning situation, but a one-sided view on design. Therefore I see the current professors as having a choice they can either use their position of power for good or for bad.
I think this post is quite interesting. I never understood why it was that teachers could not give their point of view when it came to political issues. Shouldn't we be getting as many points of view as we can, gather as many facts as we can, so we can analyze everything and formulate our own opinions? I think so. I also think that by only hearing our parents point of view and their stances on things, no matter how educated they are, we really are not getting enough information to make our own judgments. I think that professors should speak their educated opinions and that students should listen. At least to some degree. I think that we can at least get their ideas and decide what to do with them. We are all supposed to be adults, so we can at least be treated as such.
So Sam, how smart would we be if we let you brainwash us? And how smart would we be if we let out parents brainwash us? or our classmates, or the Daily Show, or Hardball, or anybody/thing? Would you feel fulfilled as an educator if we let you brainwash us? I don't think you really would. Now, if, as a student, I did go along with everything you said and all of your ideas or any of my other professors, my parents, or classmates or anyone, it would be because I really learned something and I looked into what i was already thinking and sae that it was flawed for my life and growth. But isn't that what educators want? For their students to hear them and listen to them and take on their views only after thinking deeply about it and knowing within themselves that it's right for them? That's how i do things. I hear you say some amazing, poignant, and thoughtful things in class that make a lot of sense, but if your ideas just aren't right for me, they can be amazing for eternity and I won't take them on. But jsut about everything you say influences me and that's what's important. Everything you say has caused me to think and ask myself, is what I am doing, thinking. etc. right or is Sam's way the way to go or is someone else's way the way to go. Usually i do stick with my own notions, habits and ideas, but I reaffirm that that is what is right for me and i learn anew. My mother may feel differently. One of the first things she told me almost 3 years ago was not to let any of the crazy things my professors say influence me or change my values. What she was saying pertained mainly to sex, religion and my values/morals. But then everything she has told me has influenced me and now i share largely the esame values and morals as she does. So have i been brainwashed to the point of no return/ Well no. A few years ago I was sure that sex should be saved for marriage and that i would do things that way. That went out the door over two years ago. A while ago, I was sure that I was a Christian, today I have no clue what religion I am, and to my mother's dismay, church has begun to bug me. I'm not blaming this on college or my professors or anything. But some things i have heard and seen have influenced my current belief system and ways of moving through life. And i'm sure more thing's will shape me, but like I said, I won't go along with anything just because it makes perfect sense. anything can make perfect sense but what is important is if it makes perfect sense for me. It's like math, i know 2+2=4 but I don't care until i can prove that it matters to me. if someone told me 2+2=kejrhgfjsdfhvb then it wouldn't make a difference until i really thought about it and saw how that information would make me feel like a better person. So Sam, I'm sorry if I haven't become your intellectual mini-me, but know that I learned a lot about myself and the world around me because of your class. One day, i may take on your views, but only if they're right for me. Until then i'll just compliment you and say "Dude! you've kicked out some awesome things." I'm happy to have gotten it kicked to. -Ari.
I could definitely understand Sam’s sentiment in being a professor and finding a report in the New York Times that states that students don’t really care what you are saying. I especially think this would be a painful pill to swallow if in fact I was doing work in Sociology such as the work that Sam does where your efforts are conveyed through the change in the minds of the students that you teach. My feelings on this are that from the time you are born you are predisposed to take the advice and believe whatever your parents say. As a child growing up you often didn’t take the time to sift through arguments made by your parents. There was no work done in order to find out what was completely valid and what was not and naturally because of the fact that no one inherently thinks their parents use them as a means to push their own agenda you are always going to be inclined to listen to your parents first and foremost. This theory holds up at least until high school or college where students throw out many of the ideas and instilments that parents worked so hard to push during childhood. Students overwhelmingly move towards making their own decisions such as underage drinking and irresponsible sexual activities. Professors also have a range of clout as far as the minds of students go. Professors often teach students on subjects they are completely unfamiliar with so they have no choice but to blindly learn whatever a teacher teaches. However students still will nick pick at certain issues that may involve a professor’s personal issues or agenda such as their feelings on political issues. So in conclusion I feel that the problem isn’t really that students aren’t listening to what their professors have to say, I feel that the ultimate problem is that students only listen to a little bit of what anyone has to say parents and professors included.
Throughout my life I felt that I have always been well educated. My father has taught me to explore the world through books and literature just as he has. It has paid off well for my father now as a successful President of a company. One day I hope to follow in his footsteps. But the only way I will succeed is by continuing to grow, questioning, and being curious about the world around me. One way that this possible is through the teachings of talented professors at Penn State. Most of my business class teachers have been a part of the working world. They have been financial advisors, managers, and accountants for some of the top firms in the country. To me they are my mentors and will help me enter the world of business with a good head on my shoulders. Throughout the election they provided me with insight I could not find anywhere else. I knew I could trust it. Although I ultimately made my decision on my own I can’t help but think about the people who did not have the opportunity to be in my classes. These people did not know all the facts. It may be true that students do not always listen to wait there teachers say. But I am not someone who will throw away valuable information. I welcome intelligent professional opinions in the classroom as long as they are worthwhile thoughts that benefit the students.
I am a student who is in the media studies major. Having made it through the curriculum it is hard to see where people get their political information. My search for credible sources that are mainstream gets more and more bleak everyday. There is a lot of information out there about politics,and for an educated person who is determined to get through the muck you can find what you are looking for. But for the everyday person the information that is readily available and that people call "news" is appalling. I turned on the news the other day and the hot topic on the news networks was what type of dog Obama would have in the white house, and all I could think to myself is who the hell cares, out of all the issues going on in the world today you found the time and money to waste on talking out what breed of dog the president is going to prefer. I think that professors should talk about politics in their classrooms, that is what college is, an open forum of ideas to further push the knowledge of each student. Students don't have to agree with their professors opinions, but should at least have a knowledgeable and informed opinion on why they don't. College is an area that touches on sensitive topics, gets them out and discussed. I praise this professor for stepping up and caring enough to share his opinion with his classes. I am sure that he has students that love him for it and students that can’t stand him standing up on his soap box. Either way his bringing information to them and further setting that student into their own informed opinion on important issues facing this country today.
Our source of information when we are young is our parents. My parents have always been a constant in my life and I turn to them for advice and guidance. Regardless of whether I take it or not they are always there with an opinion.
We grow older, we learn to either value their opinions even more or rebel. College is a time when this comes to the forefront. Learning to be your own person while maintaining a connection to your roots is difficult. Especially if you find yourself questioning those ideas that were rooted in you since you were little. I believe professors have great baring on students and the forming of their opinions, they are reaching students at a time for the most part when they are finally somewhat on their own. This is a critical period where students are impressionable. This gives a lot of power to professors. I value professors that make me think in alternative ways. However, professors must be careful to do so in a non-threatening way. Perhaps introducing a balanced argument and letting students imply things on their own or students will feel their views being criticized. I disagree with the fact that professors can’t sway opinion. I believe they can, or as least make student think for even just a minute, in a way that is not consistent with what they have always known. I like to be challenged, I rarely feel like my ideas and views are placed under a microscope and certain professors try to break down your opinion whether they are just playing devils advocate or not, me about why I really feel the way I do about an issue. Is it because I formed that opinion on my own, heard it from a family member, or television show? One can’t learn if they are not open to another’s point of view. Breaking down the wall that students have built up until college may be difficult as well. If they had strong, opinionated parents like mine, it is difficult to introduce them to new ideas, but at the same time necessary. I have had a few professors that have done such, I often find myself going home at break and trying to introduce those new views to my family, it doesn’t always go well, but at least I feel I have formed an opinion on my own with valuable information and am not agreeing with my parents because I feel the need to. What I have found is that when I try to go home and explain a new view my parents are resistant because they have had their opinions for a much longer amount of time. So overall those professors that end up introducing me to new views make me realize that it is okay to maintain your initial views as long as you have been exposed to the contrary and more so that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
I would have to disagree with the statement that my teachers have not swayed my political opinions. It was their narrow-mindedness and not their openness, however, that helped me to form my own opinions. Where I grew up, this situation of ‘unbiased teachers, unwavering parents’ was almost the complete opposite. I went to a high school filled with narrow-minded teachers convinced that their political opinions were law, and went home to parents that strongly encouraged me to form my own political views separate from their own.
Up until last year I was not that interested in politics at all. I knew the basics and had my beliefs, but with the government we have had for the past eight years, I did not really see what was all that thrilling. The upcoming 2008 election started to interest me but it was ultimately my 12th grade economics teacher that changed my mind for good. From the moment I stepped into his class I knew we were going to have serious problems. While he claimed he would keep politics out of class and take a non-biased stance on problems, it was clear after the first two weeks he could do neither of these things. And while his derogatory remarks about Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton infuriated me, I did not feel like I knew enough about either of these politicians to take a stand. I will admit that I first went to parents, but they are adamant about me forming my own political views. My father, although he is not a US citizen and therefore cannot vote, is very interested in and informed about American politics. My mother is always open to political discussions but she will never tell me who she has voted for. While I have an idea of what political parties they affiliate themselves with, they are both very strong about me forming my own opinions by myself. I then turned to the next, least-intimidating source: The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. While some may claim that these shows are “not very appealing for the spread of democratic process” I wasn’t quite ready for Cnn yet, and both shows really did help me see the entertaining side of politics. From there I transitioned to Cnn and MSNBC, and now I read The New York Times every day. This level of knowledge has definitely made me a better, more informed person.
While many students have to fight their bigoted and narrow-minded parents, I feel I have had to fight these same characteristics in a number of my teachers. And although I did not exactly enjoy having to sit through their class as they brainwashed those students that were more willing to conform, I feel that teachers have swayed my opinions, maybe just not in the way they had hoped for.
I think it is no secret that kids today develop their political opinions, along with numerous other ways of thinking, based on the political opinions and beliefs of their parents. The so-called typical American child lives with his or her parents for somewhere around 18 years before he or she ventures out into the world. For those 18 years, the strongest influence (whether positive or negative), in my opinion, is that of his or her parents. Most kids, at a young age, look up to their parents, and some even want to grow up to be exactly like them. It is the duty of the parents to raise their children responsibly—to teach them right and wrong, to give them values, and to impose on them moral character. And although different parents take countless varying approaches to raising a child, some succeeding at their duty and some failing, kids in general seem to grow up and turn out the way they do almost directly because of the way they were raised by their parents. Overall, parents have an irrevocably strong influence on their children, whether this is a good thing or a bad thing.
From this, I think it is easy to see why the recent research shows that professors have very little influence on the political opinions of their students. Although college is the ideal time to search for answers, explore new ideas and find out who you truly are and what you really believe, it seems that most college students today have already made up their minds on what they believe—whether or not they know the facts. I presume it to be highly likely that a great percentage of the students who voted this year did so based on whom their parents voted for, without doing any individual research on the topics at hand, or even deeply considering the other candidate. When you turn 18 and you apply for registration to vote, what political party do you mark yourself registered as? I, for one, am the first to admit that I was not educated enough to know what I believed, and I completely based my party affiliation on that of my parents, and it would be hard for me to believe that numerous others did not do the same.
Although this is clearly not the way it should be, it’s the way it is for now. I completely disagree with following any type of belief just because someone else does; yet I can see how difficult it is to simply erase the influence your parents have on you since I myself have followed their views thus far in my life. As a new generation, we need to explore and develop our own unique opinions by allowing our minds to be open to others, especially those who have completed higher education. I know that I have a lot of work to do before I can be confident in what I believe and easily defend everything I think, but at least I know that I realize it.
This is a very interesting topic that I have never really thought about before. For me, I agree with the statement that “the political opinions of professors do not seem to have any influence over the political opinions of students.” Guaranteed some students may follow the political opinion of their professor, but I think it is up to the students to make their own, educated decisions. However, I also believe that it is the professor’s job to inform the students on both sides of the arguments, instead of just giving a biased opinion, therefore allowing the students to create their own opinion with information to back u their reasoning’s. I am sure that at home, students only hear biased opinion form their family and friends, and we need someone to give us truthful information on both sides of the argument, so we look to our teachers. But if our teachers are giving us biased information without reasoning as well, it is hard to make a decision of our own. I was never one to believe something someone told me just because it was coming from an educated person; I always needed a reason to believe that statement or I needed an explanation.
To answer the questions on what students are learning in the classroom if they do not follow their professor’s direction on political concerns, the students are just learning their professor’s opinion. That is why the professor should not just be teaching one side of the argument; they should teach both sides allowing us, as students, to have a mind of our own. Also, a student’s political opinion may not just come for their professor, but from their parents, family, and friends as well. Agreed, some of these people may not be as educated on certain topics as a student’s professor, but some may be just as educated, if not more educated, but we do not know that. As for why it is better or more acceptable for people to follow their parents over their professors, I think it is because one’s parents and family are the people she grew up around. They are the people where one learned their values and morals, therefore basing their decisions off that. And without a doubt, I can say that ones parents and family are more likely to know that person than a professor is.
Everyone believes different things. We are all different people, and trying to make different people believe the same things seems preposterous to me. If we all believed the same thing and thought the same way, we might loose some sense of our own identity.
In response to “Professors Do Not Seem to Sway Student Opinions”, I feel as though professors obviously have an influence on the new information that is given to students, but I do not feel that they sway their political opinions. Students have their own ideas of what events they should participate in, what they should read, and who they should listen to. While it is less likely that students will go read a newspaper or book if they do not want to, they are more likely to listen to a professor who is giving them information. In my opinion, I want to hear a professor's opinion about politics. My mom voted and picked exactly who she wanted, and in turn she wanted me to vote for the same person. Without giving me any knowledge, it was assumed that I was going to vote for whoever she did. Before going to the voting booth, I decided to gather more information for myself. I did this by searching on my own without the help of anyone. Parents help their children to become who they are, but as stated in the article, “the youth is thrown to the wolves every time they leave home.” Students take away things that their parents taught them, but they still need to make their own decisions when leaving home. I am sure many parents tell their children to do their homework, but I have seen many students at college who decide to drink instead of doing their work. Students are going to choose what they want to do regardless of who is giving them advice. But wouldn't we rather have the students with more knowledge vote? I have heard so many people say they were going to vote for Obama because he was black, without having anymore information about him. If our professors were to talk more about the election, people will at least vote with some sort of knowledge and not just because they like or can relate to a candidate. When parents give knowledge to their young about a candidate, I definitely feel that it is one sided. They talk great about the candidate they think should win, and do not really say much about the other one. Teachers could provide their students with overall knowledge about both candidates. I honestly think it better for people to think for themselves, rather than listening to their parents or professors, but I definitely think the more knowledge one has the better the decision they can make for themselves. I do agree with many of the other students in the class, when they say our votes are swayed by the media and peers. Students could take in information from teachers, but they will more likely listen to their peers and shows on the television.
I do not believe that professors should impose their political views on their students in the first place. Although the study mentioned shows that college students are not swayed by their professors’ opinions, professors generally are given more credibility than one’s peer when it comes to matters of politics. Therefore, there is more of a possibility that students will be swayed by the views of their teachers; I do not believe that the job of a teacher is to persuade students to believe what they believe. Although it is inevitable for professors to at least subtly hint at their political preferences, it is dangerous for professors to reveal their political affiliation. Students should be trained and encouraged to form their own opinions on political and religious matters instead of adopting those of their parents or teachers. The job of both parents and professors, I believe, is to inform their kids or students of the current nature of politics. They should give their kids the resources and means to develop their own views. If my parents attempt to convince me that one party is better than another or told me how to vote I would probably try and defy them because I don’t like being forced to make certain decisions when it comes to personal preference. In fact, I am probably more likely to be convinced by my professors, if I have developed a liking and trust toward them, than I am by my parents.
Although the study shows that professors have no political influence, I tend to give more credibility to my professors than my parents. That is why teachers’ imposing political views may prevent me from forming of my own opinions and ideas. Such teaching methods do not teach me to go out and research information on my own, but rather to take the opinions of others and decide which one appeals most to me. I agree that professors may be more educated on matters of current events than parents; however, this does not necessarily mean that their attitudes and beliefs are the correct ones.
You said to look past the idea that the classroom should be a neutral environment, but that is an essential aspect to consider about your argument. If parents should not be able to impose their “narrow vision” on their children, professors should not have that ability as well. I know that it is the professor’s job to teach and inform, but that is where the line should be drawn. Students must go out and experience the world on their own, and then come to their own conclusions about politics and current events. Otherwise, we are still being brainwashed, regardless of who it is by.
First off, I resent that people think all students are so politically uninvolved that we should put all our trust in either our teachers or parents. I’m a college kid and I have my own political opinions. I may not read the paper, but that’s a little out of date now anyway. Let’s be real- news websites are where it’s at.
I agree though that many students don’t keep up with current events. I’m not sure if it’s possible for anyone to get through to them though. Sure it’s dangerous to an accepting and tolerant democracy for students to be running around echoing their parents, but to have such a large group of the population uneducated about our government and its actions is dangerous as well. Americans, especially those of my generation, tend to be complacent. Our government does just enough to keep us happy that we don’t feel the need to look into political affairs too closely. Honestly, the only time you really get a stir out of people is when you threaten their guns or raise gas prices. Obviously people have gotten upset about the war, but most of us- unless we know someone overseas, are able to forget that we’re even fighting one.
So, maybe what schools and professors should really be doing is teaching kids about these issues. To be honest, I’ve never taken a class, that’s taught me anything about American politics after the Vietnam War. Why don’t schools require students to look further into the history we’ve lived through? I think that if society wants us to understand the political situation in our country they’d to more to teach us about it. All high school history classes seem to start at the same place- the Revolutionary War, and rarely make it past World War II. Maybe all college freshmen should have to take Recent Politics as a Gen. Ed. Then, if we understood the situation, we could look at it critically, and form our own beliefs, and vote accordingly.
As to why students accept their parent’s beliefs over professors- it may be a trust issue. I don’t know anything about you; why should I trust you to tell me what to believe? At least my parents have clothed and fed me for 19 years. I agree though, there are some parents who shouldn’t be passing on their beliefs. You seem smart and open minded- your attempted brainwashing is noble.
I believe people are good at heart. If we all understood the issues and what the people in the middle of those issues were going through, we’d make the right decisions. Until then we’ll just have to hope that while we sit through lectures about what’s right and wrong with society that some of what we hear will sink in.
Yes, you are well educated on the subject of politics however helping a child shape their opinion on what beliefs and values they hold related to what party they choose to be a part of takes much more work and effort than simply listening to a lecture by your professor. Sure, chances are that a professor especially one that specializes in history or politics would be more informed that a parent although that is making a bold assumption. Who’s to say that parents aren’t informed on the complex issues of today? From their perspective they do inherit the right to pass on their beliefs down to their children, whether you agree with it or not. I do not think there is anything wrong with parents passing on their ideals as long as they allow for the child to look into other religions or perspectives on complex issues. In order for someone to make a knowledgeable decision they must be exposed to all the different viewpoints so that they are fully informed on the topic. By arguing that the professor should teach children what they are to believe in you are leaving out the option to allow the child to make his own decision. Not all people have the same beliefs and values; therefore they are not all going to agree on the same decisions on all complex issues no matter what you teach them.
People should not be told what to believe and what decisions to make according to what their professor thinks, because who’s to say that although well educated professors are not as bias as parents? If everyone were to start voting depending on whoever their professor told them to vote for their personal beliefs about such issues as abortion and what health care system to use would be completely left out. Many issues like those I previously listed do not necessarily have a right or a wrong answer to them; your opinion may weigh on your religious views or where you stand economically and that is not something your professor can answer.
Another reason professors should not be the sole resource that children form their beliefs from is that many professors including Sam Richards have classes reaching sizes of over seven hundred students. How can you argue that professors, especially those with classes of Sam’s size, have the same capacity as parents do to give each child or student a full quality education on complex issues that also gives the person the full personal attention they need to ask questions and come to the best understanding. In conclusion, I do believe that professors specializing on a certain subject are fantastic resources for people to educate themselves and shape their personal opinions around. However, parents are equally as important in helping a child figure out what they believe in because it is the combination of as many resources as are available that can truly guide someone to form concrete decisions that they can stand behind.
As long as students are not afraid to challenge professors’ opinions, I say if a professor wants to share his or her opinions about a topic, go for it. Some students are naive enough to believe everything they hear from a professor simply because they go by Dr. so and so. These students will benefit the most in the long run if opinionated students will stand up and present opposing viewpoints on a subject. This is because students prone to being fickle will be presented with both sides of an argument, and allowed to form beliefs based on others’. This may at first sound as though indecisive students would be stealing the opinions of others, but if they have made it eighteen years without a solid opinion, at least they can sound somewhat educated if asked to express their thoughts on an issue, even if “their thoughts” belong to someone else. That being said, as a whole, I would say most students with opinions previous to walking into the classroom are resistant to changing sides on a given issue because it would take an awful lot of convincing and persuading to make someone change his or her viewpoint about something. When walking into classrooms where professors express themselves, students would just need to filter the truth from the crap, just as if anyone else were sharing beliefs. Some professors will tell it like it is more than others, but it is still a good precaution to do your research and be sure to speak for yourself. As for parents being an unreliable source, I would say as a whole that parents with unreliable facts will produce children with unreliable facts, whether they push their beliefs on their children or not; it is funny how the apple never falls far from the tree. The children who really aspire to be individuals and think for themselves will do the research to form opinions of their own, and the rest probably won’t do much in life anyway. However, some parents happen to be far more educated than professors, and as for their children, they may be better off hearing their parents out on some issues and completely ignoring ignorant professors on others. And once again, if the children of extremely educated people want to learn more on an issue to further his or her knowledge in a given area, they will, and the rest will grow up to be a cut out of mom or dad. So sure, if professors want to share opinions, do it. Some students will become educated from it, others will be encouraged to share their own opinions, while others still we be brainwashed, but what can you do? It is bound to happen somehow.
After reading the article “Professors Do Not Seem to Sway Student Opinions“, I tried to relate it to my personal life and who influenced my political opinions this past election. For the most part, neither my parents nor my professors swayed my decision in voting for President Barack Obama. A few years ago, I was watching an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Obama was there promoting his book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream. Since that moment, I became a follower of Obama, despite the fact that there were only minor rumors of his nomination for president. The main aspect that drew me in was how well he spoke getting his message across to the audience. The reason why professors probably weren’t able to persuade me to one person or another is that I only have one semester under my belt.
Throughout my senior year of high school, my government teacher updated us with the presidential campaigns. She was very determined not to get her opinion to influence her students because she believed the best way to vote was through your self-made decision. She presented both parties very well. Expect for her, no other teacher or professor of mine spoke about the presidential process.
My parents actually come from two different sides of the political spectrum. I would have to say that my dad is the most republican as republicans come and that my mom is the most democratic as democratic come. Seeing how my dad acts and believes in politics, I can clearly see my granddad’s influence in him. The two of them attend many republican affairs in our community and have never voted on the left side of the spectrum. With that being said, I think it would be too confusing to listen to their point of views if the two of them do not even agree.
My older sister, who just graduated from Penn State, was probably the biggest influence on my vote, despite Obama himself. She followed him very well and was able to spit out any fact or point of view of Obama’s. Comparing myself to her, I agree with a large majority of her views, so I considered her political decisions very close to heart.
Obama’s campaign was extremely eye catching also in terms of his posters, signs, stickers, etc. As immature as that may sound, those things did catch my eye. All over Penn State’s campus, I saw Obama propaganda everywhere I turned.
Overall, I would not necessarily say that professors should have more say in persuading a student’s views over a parent simply because parents know much more about their own child then a professor knows about their student. Professors and parents may influence many, but looking at the way I choose this past election, which was the first time I could vote, I chose solely on Obama himself.
After reading the article entitled, "Professors Do Not Seem to Sway Student Opinions", I thought about who helped to shape my political beliefs and values. I believe my beliefs were shaped through my own personal experiences along with the help and guidance of people I’ve encountered. I have listened to many lectures and stories growing up from people older than me, my age, and even those younger than me about their own political beliefs. Furthermore, I have witnessed first-hand many things that have influenced the way I think and what I believe is moral. It is a blend of both these things that have shaped me to believe in what I do today.
The main point of this article was a bit too much. I don’t think that just because one is a professor that he or she should believe that what they think is the “right” way or “only” way. If a professor anywhere thinks this than that is truly ridiculous. No one should force their beliefs on anyone else. A good professor will enlighten his students with his beliefs, share stories about how this came to be, and then leave it up to the student to ultimately decide what he or she thinks to be right. Also, I believe the same thing to be true about one’s parents. One’s parents and guardians should set a good example for their kids. However, they should not enforce their kids to believe in something strictly because they do. They should be a role model for their kids, and then trust them to develop good morals and beliefs. One’s kids will go through different experiences, and therefore will think differently than their parents. It is because of these experiences that causes one to have a different understanding and opinion on topics such as politics, religion, etc. Whose to say that because your view is different than someone else’s that you’re wrong and that you’re a bad person?
With that said, I do in fact believe that professors at Penn State should share their opinions more in class and talk about real world scenarios. I am an Economics teacher at Penn State and not once did we ever talk about the current recession that is going on. This is in fact the biggest concern currently in the United States among the entire population, and not one professor even mentioned it. We did graphs, solved equations, and other economic principles. It is great to learn the basic equations and to talk about supply and demand, but I do believe that we should talk more importantly about what is going on in the world today. I believe that it is the professor’s duty to take a little time out in class and explain a little bit about this every class period.
Before my brother attended Penn State about four and a half years ago, he had the same opinions about politics as my Dad. After his college experience he made a complete turn around. Before college he leaned towards being very conservative. During this past election my Dad and him got into fights about the candidates – he was all for Obama and the liberals, unlike my Dad. Clearly, it was not my parents that caused him to change his point of view overtime. It was more the professors and being at away from home at school is what changed it. As he went into college I always remembered him, politically speaking, as being exactly like my Dad.
I’ve always agreed with my Dad when it came to politics and life in general, just like my brother at first. Although I did not really do my own research, like most kids, I agree with my Dad and only listen to what he has to say; who by the way listens to conservative talk shows daily, obviously he’s a little closed-minded about things like politics and a new black president taking office. When it came time for my first voting experience, I turned to not only my Dad, but also my whole family. I can’t say that I’m not one of those typical kids that don’t look for their parents’ opinions and make them my own. However, I do believe that my opinions are subject to change after my college experience. Ever since it started to get close to moving away to college, my Dad always told me that my whole perspective would probably change. He joked with me and said to try and stay normal and not go down the “dark side”. Although he joked about it, in a way I definitely think he was serious because of how shocked he was to see how different my brother’s prospective on life became. This really makes me think that eventually I will change or at least grasp my very own opinion about politics and life after college.
I understand why you think that students should listen to their professors’ opinions more so than their parents’. Speaking as only a second semester freshman, I came from a high school where teachers were always politically correct. They would not even tell us what political party they were affiliated with. Coming to college was a big difference for me in the classroom. Last semester, teachers said what they felt and weren’t worried about the politically correctness of their lectures. It definitely makes a classroom more interesting and will eventually start to change the opinions of many students depending on the professors. So even if their professors do not influence students now, I believe that eventually they will.
In response to the article, “Professors Do Not Seem to Sway Student Opinions”, I believe that professors directly influence a student’s ability to think to an extent, and therefore affect the way they make decisions about various issues. When a freshman first arrives at college, they really have not had any eye-opening experiences. They are used to seeing the same things everyday and many do not know how to accept change. Some students refuse to accept another’s way of thinking; however, I have noticed that many students are starting to think for themselves.
A professor’s job is to challenge one’s previous beliefs so that he or she can think for himself or herself and develop their own perspective on different issues. In this class particularly, a very serious subject is scrutinized and we are asked to think for ourselves and leave any previous views behind us. I think this is a great way to teach a class about race because many of our parents have entrenched their point of view on race into our heads. I feel that the Baby Boomer generation has a very skewed outlook on race. Growing up, they were influenced first hand with segregation and racism. As a result, our generation is brainwashed by our parents to believe the same way as them concerning segregation and racism. College, however, is a great place because of professors such as Dr. Richards, along with many others at the university, that challenge us daily with important societal issues to develop a belief system for ourselves.
At the same time, however, I seldom have experienced professors trying to voice their opinion on the subject of politics. I think when a professor engages in a political discussion, students tend to stop paying attention because either they have developed a point of view from their own research, or they want to see eye to eye with their parents. Professors are some of the most knowledgeable people out there. However, I think students find it insulting when a professor, or anyone for that matter, challenges their position on politics. To be honest, I am not one that has ever been very active in politics. It has never appealed to me and I have little interest in following all of the various issues over which candidates debate. Due to this and my parent’s great interest and knowledge in politics, I turned to them and asked for guidance on several issues. After they educated me on the candidate’s views regarding the economy, gay marriage rights, and taxes, I decided to vote the same way as them. In my last few years at Penn State, I believe that my outlook on politics will change. My future experiences will allow me to form my own political views and pick a candidate based on issues that will affect my life, not the life of my parents.
After reading the article, Professors Do Not Seem to Sway Student Opinions, I immediately thought about how I develop my political views and opinions. It is very safe to say that parents immensely influence our opinions on politics. What our parents think should only help us shape our opinions and views along with a lot of other things. Other opinions such as our friends, family, churches, and professors all help us build our own political views. They are all pieces to a puzzle that we ourselves must put together.
Depending on the parents, the parents should only propose many different views to the child and let them develop their own sense of being and develop their own views on politics. When thinking of my views on politics, I first think of the teachings of my parents and then think of how I feel about the issues at hand. My parents have voiced there opinions on how they feel about certain political issues, but allow me to disagree with them, and realize that I am my own person. In allowing me to disagree it gives me the opportunity to build my own thoughts, and opinions. I also take into consideration my past experiences and the experiences of others that I have witness to form an opinion on the issue I am facing.
There are many different ways for students to form opinions on politics. With modern day technology we can investigate and research politics on our own. Now there is no excuse not to be informed on the politics and the issues of the world. We now have the internet in which gives us access to an infinite amount of information. If students but take the initiative to learn about and research politicians and there views, they can form educated views on politics. With this students can choose to believe who they want to believe, if a professor says something they want to adopt as there own belief that is their choice. If they want disagree, that is good as well. No one should sway anyone’s opinion, but broaden their knowledge on politics.
I feel that it is very wrong to tell a professor not squelch their feelings and views on politics. The professors may have a bit more information and experience on the issues in politics. These views and opinions can greatly help students form there own opinions. By the time we get into college, we pretty much have our own sense of being and own stances on politics. Therefore no one should be able to “sway” our opinions, but help to our expand knowledge. It is left up to the students whether they take into consideration the political views of their professors. I feel as though, professors should be able to voice their opinions, it is up to the students to take the information and use it or leave it.
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