You Can't Teach That!!

Going after CRT and DEI was just the start

The attacks on higher education, especially for those of us with a background in the social sciences and humanities, continues unabated. From the conservative takeover of New College of Florida to the weakening of tenure protections¹, it seems that people like me are blamed for a variety of current crises based on what we teach (or taught) in the classroom.² First came the outrageous claims about the role of Critical Race Theory in American higher education. Then CRT — in its fuzzy form — was supposedly found in elementary schools. Then DEI efforts were blamed for bank failures, military weakness, and an overall indoctrination of students³. So states began eliminating state higher ed monies for DEI offices and programs.

Today I saw a screen shot of a fundraising appeal from Florida governor Ron DeSantis. In it, he diagnoses what he sees as the problem and brags about his solution.

In Florida, Governor DeSantis is working tirelessly to end woke activism in our college classrooms and restore the tenants of a classical college education that made our system the envy of the world. And we cannot relent. because woke education is destroying America. The days of universities teaching students the tools necessary to be good citizens of our republic are gone. We are no longer helping young minds to form their individual moral intuitions, to think critically, to understand their rights and responsibilities as American citizens. Instead, the new priority is to indoctrinate a generation of divisive ideologues (emphasis mine).

First, DeSantis imagines a college education from the period of our founding, where college was a finishing school for young wealthy landowners⁴ instead of an institution preparing students to live and work in the complexities of the contemporary world. Second, he asserts that critical thinking and moral formation aren’t part of educational outcomes. This is an evidence-free claim. And, third, this is because faculty want to indoctrinate their students. It’s not that students see issues of racial inequality or gender discrimination or transgender attacks or gun violence as real issues. They couldn’t possibly be doing that! It must be the liberal professors!

So it’s upsetting but not at all surprising that the next front in this attack is going after the professors themselves. Last week the Tennessee legislature (yes, that one) passed an update of the “Tennessee Higher Education Freedom of Expression and Transparency Act”. According to the story, the 2022 version banned teaching the following:

That one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex

That a person, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist or oppressive — whether consciously or subconsciously

That a person should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of their race or sex

That a person's moral character is determined by their race or sex

That a person, by virtue of their race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex

That a person should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or another form of psychological distress because of their race or sex

That a meritocracy is inherently racist, sexist or designed by a particular race or sex to oppress members of another race or sex

That Tennessee or the U.S. is fundamentally or irredeemably racist⁵ or sexist

Promoting or advocating the violent overthrow of the U.S. government

Promoting division between, or resentment of, a race, sex, religion, creed, nonviolent political affiliation, social class or class of people

Ascribing character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges or beliefs to a race or sex, or to a person because of their race or sex

That the rule of law does not exist but instead is a series of power relationships and struggles among racial or other groups

That "all Americans are not created equal and are not endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"

That governments should deny to any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the law

In other words, sociology, history, philosophy, and literature have to disappear from public universities in Tennessee.

Not to be outdone, Republicans in Louisiana put forward a resolution that will ban the study of racism in Louisiana public universities. Its goal is to stop the teaching of the “inglorious aspects⁶” of American history.

We should anticipate similar legislation to show up in the red states that thrive on these anti-education stances: Georgia, Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Alabama, Mississippi, and maybe Ohio and Kentucky.⁷

It’s not hard to know how public universities will respond to such legal restrictions. We already have evidence. In the New College post linked above, I described how the only black sociologist on the faculty had canceled courses that others could deem problematic. This will happen most rapidly in those states (like Tennessee) who’s legislation allows anyone to be a whistleblower and out a renegade faculty member.⁸

These moves will accelerate the already-present trend of universities moving from liberal arts programs to programs in STEM fields, e-commerce, or sports medicine. Because somehow, students will learn the tenets (sic) of a classical education in those fields.

As bad as all of this is for higher education in general — and especially the social sciences and humanities in particular — I noticed a tiny silver lining. There is actually an opening for Christian Higher Education to step in and fill the gap. I know that the conservative donors and trustees would see that as problematic, but stay with me.

The legislation that has been put forward so far only deals with public education. There is no limitation on private institutions.⁹ Christian universities are already committed to the formation of moral intuition that DeSantis is so worried about. They understand a theology that must reckon with the damage created by sin, both individual and societal. This theology acknowledges the reality of "inglorious aspects of history" and challenges students to wrestle with that reality in hope of restoration. Students at Christian universities learn of the social oppression of the Ancient Israelites that runs throughout the Old Testament.

I’m not so naive as to think that donors, trustees, and administrators would be willing to take this risk. But mirroring the public institutions in pursuit of this imaginary classical education is not the path to long-term success.

1. This isn’t counting those schools addressing financial challenges by removing tenured faculty by eliminating programs.

2. Anyone who has taught for more than a semester can attest to the fact that student retention of course material may not survive beyond the subsequent semester.

3. Look out for Beer Cans!

4. Where they no doubt learned the difference between their tenants they collected rent from and the tenets they held!

5. Tennessee wasn’t ever fundamentally racist — it was just instrumentally racist (but I probably can’t say that in Tennessee).

6. A remarkable way to frame the argument — the destruction of the 9th Ward by Katrina was certainly “inglorious”.

7. I’m sure I’ve missed some. If you know of more states enacting similar bans, let me know.

8. I think all those legislators should be given a copy of Bradbury’s Farenheit 451 but it’s probably on their banned list.

9. At least until these same legislators start going after state student aid.