Recently I received the following question, by email, from Margaret, a former student, someone I taught many years ago, in high school. We have stayed in touch occasionally over the years. She herself is now a teacher. I think her question, and our resulting correspondence, may be of wider interest. She has given me permission to publish it.
Margaret: I am just wondering why so many people in the education profession tend to be liberal? Do they tend to have a different perception about life than “normal people”? (Smiley face emoticon was inserted here in the original.) I’m seeing a disturbing trend in the higher education field; it seems that if a professor voices a conservative opinion, it is not tolerated. It seems to me that fewer and fewer conservative-thinking professors are keeping their jobs. I noticed this when I talked with my own children who recently graduated from college, when they would tell me about their professors.
Richard: OK, Margaret — I will try to give a serious, thoughtful, but not lengthy answer to your question.
First. I think you are right that most college and university professors (and staff) tend to have more liberal opinions about politics. This has been well documented. However, most does not mean all. There are some colleges and universities (I can name a few) where the faculty tend to be more conservative. And even at institutions like Dartmouth, there are a number of well-known conservative professors. Granted, they are not in the majority, but they do exist, and they do have influence. And others would say they are neither conservative nor liberal; they see themselves as neutral.
Why are most of them liberal? Here are a few reasons that I think often (but not always) apply:
1.) The process of education involves learning to value, and assess, different perspectives. That in itself is a liberal position. Few professors are programmed to accept received wisdom. Doubting the status quo and seeking alternatives is built into the educational process.
2.) However, this doubting can itself become orthodoxy — that is, everyone is required to doubt. If you accept a more conventional view, it may be seen that you don’t doubt enough! This is why, as you say, liberals can be as intolerant as conservatives. They are just as committed to a point of view as conservatives are. The difference is that conservatives tend to be more aware of their convictions, and less willing to raise tolerance to an absolute value. Liberals are less aware that the tolerance and doubt that they embrace is itself, for many of them, an absolute standard that can make them intolerant of other views. In other words, liberals are likely to be less aware of their own intolerance than conservatives are.
3.) Finally, university faculty (and administrators), like other groups (business people come to mind) tend to replicate themselves. When hiring new faculty, decisions are almost always made by the present faculty. Unacknowledged preference to hire people with views like their own probably prevails more often than not.
That’s my answer. Let me know what you think.
Margaret: One statement that I disagree with is where you said “This is why, as you say, liberals can be as intolerant as conservatives.” I don’t believe I ever mentioned that conservatives were intolerant. (Liberals yes, but conservatives, no!) (Smiley face ) Are you subconsciously demonstrating that “liberals are likely to be more unaware of their own intolerance than conservatives are?
On a more serious note, I believe the word intolerance has been perverted over the recent past. Disagreement has been characterized as intolerance. Just because I have a different opinion or conviction from someone else doesn’t mean I’m intolerant of that person. At one time tolerance meant to respectfully disagree. For example, can someone disagree with same-sex marriage without being called a homophobe? If someone doesn’t agree with heterosexual relationships, would or should they be called a heterophobe?
I was at a school board meeting last night and a person that works for the state education association (of which I am a member) was making negative political remarks. They seem to make the assumption that just because I’m in education, I’m liberal in my thought process. (You would have been proud of me … I abstained from making a comment). I see today a close similarity to what’s happening in our society presently and the ideology of the free-thinking and the anything-goes mentality of the ’60s. At that time, the young (the Mr. Crockers), were rebelling against the establishment (smiley face). That in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. I agree that to some extent the youth need to challenge established principles or we would never move forward as a society. There however needs to be a balance.
Richard: I mostly agree with you, Margaret. You are correct in saying that tolerance should promote respectful discussion between people who disagree. But often issues are more emotional than rational, and disagreement becomes personal. That leads people to avoid discussing things about which they know there will be disagreement, which is too bad. I agree that universities may have overreacted with the “safe spaces” thing. But there is also a matter of being caring. When/if you know that a member of your class has been raped, you know a discussion of sexual assault is likely to be upsetting. So, then, how do we approach talking about things that are very likely to be upsetting? When teaching my class on Religion and Politics (the two subjects that are not supposed to be discussed at dinner parties!), I have begun by setting down certain rules in class — one of which is that when we are discussing controversial issues, we must all refuse to be offended. We must acknowledge that there will be different perspectives and experiences, and that no one is trying to be hurtful or obnoxious. We are all learning. A sensitive teacher, I think can and should help promote the kind of tolerance you describe.
Margaret: I agree with what you said about some subjects being difficult to discuss and with you having class rules of discussion. That was why you were so respected as a teacher. We did give you a hard time, but you were such a good sport about it! Unfortunately, I believe your way of thinking is becoming a dying art.
Richard R. Crocker lives in Lebanon. He is the emeritus dean of the Tucker Foundation and college chaplain at Dartmouth College.