Legal Research

Closed Minds?

By jlutz99

The problem with American higher education may not be too much politics but too little, at least that seems to be the conclusion of a recent book: Closed Minds? Political Ideology in American Universities.  The Chronicle of Higher Education recently discussed the book.  Here's a brief excerpt:

Closed Minds? was written by A. Lee Fritschler, director of executive education at George Mason's School of Public Policy; Jeremy D. Mayer, an associate professor at the school; and Bruce L.R. Smith, a visiting professor at the school. In their introduction, the authors say one of them considers himself a Republican, another a moderate Democrat, and the third a more-liberal Democrat?although they do not say who is who.

The authors lament what they see as a generations-long shift away from political debate on college campuses, which they contend is crucial to students' education. "Universities should be the home of lively and civilized political debate, and all too often, for a host of reasons, professors ignore political debate," they write.

Read the Chronicle article here.

Go to the Amazon site to see the book here.

Posted by Jon Lutz

Full post as published by FSU College of Law Library Blog on October 20, 2008 (boomark / email).