Editorial: 'Academic freedom' not a license to say, do anything

As we go back to our classes, we’ve begun to notice a trend among some instructors at Chico State.

We’re not prudes — in fact far from it — but some of the behavior exhibited by our professors has us shaking our heads and wondering if this type of behavior would be acceptable in a typical workplace.

The school grounds on which classes are taught get the highest scrutiny.

That being said, instructors should naturally be cautious of how they behave.

Or so you would think.

The vague term “academic freedom” may have a lot to do with the way acceptable classroom practices for professors have slipped.

When academic freedom is used to make students learn in new and different ways, it can be a good thing.

Professors should have the freedom to push the envelope to get students thinking instead of letting them fall asleep and drool on the desks during class. But there are some teachers who overstep their bounds.

If college is an ongoing preparation for “real” life, not only through what is in the books but the socialization we undergo, there may be lawsuits in our future.

We don’t expect professors to be perfect. We don’t mind if instructors swear occasionally in class, or makes a slightly off-color joke.

They are human, after all.

We do have a problem with professors who seem to think we are there solely for their entertainment and amusement.

There are a lot of good aspects to tenured professors, but we wonder sometimes about instructors who berate their students, show up late, unprepared, or make sexual comments about their students.

Students are here to learn, but they shouldn’t come to class worrying about being verbally attacked or harassed by their instructor.

We are paying customers and we expect to be treated like adults, on all levels.

If we forget to turn in an assignment, that is our responsibility and we’ll be punished for it.

Instructors have their responsibilities as well.

If we’re expected to mind our manners in the classroom and be respectful, professors should be held to the same standards.

For the record, instructors never need to be vulgar or obscene to relate to students.

Just speak to us as adults and we’ll try to behave the same way.
 

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1 comments

Anonymous

Mon Feb 8 2010 12:46

if you are paying customers take your business else where if you don't like the professor

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