Post by sader1970 on Oct 8, 2022 5:15:54 GMT -5
An opinion piece from the president of Nichols College in Dudley, MA. Some points that we can use on Crossports and beyond:
www.telegram.com/story/opinion/2022/10/08/nichols-college-president-glenn-m-sulmasy-need-civil-discourse/8000758001/
Sulmasy: Civil discourse valued now more than ever
Glenn M. Sulmasy
Nichols College President Glenn M. Sulmasy
Fall and a new political season are upon us. In a deeply divided America, this year marks what can be described as an inflection point for educators and students. As the November elections approach, professors and teachers must take this opportunity to engage students in the deeply important function of the democratic process, free speech and civil discourse – what can best be described as embracing intellectual diversity of thought.
Today, we see our country at its highest moral and ethical divide. According to a Pew Research poll, 90% of respondents believe there are conflicts between people who support different political parties and six in 10 U.S. adults find it stressful to talk about issues. If you have been at a dinner party or community event of late, you know well that discussing differences in politics, even just the economy or inflation, can be polarizing. A nation will always face differing opinions, but what makes this country distinct is we can openly discuss our opinions and work together to find solutions to prevalent problems. The past few years have shown this task to be increasingly difficult. Family members and friends argue, and some have even stopped speaking to each other because of their differing standpoints on issues.
We are better than this.
Institutes for education – from the public sector to higher education – have an obligation to teach and foster conversation that unites and is free from personal attack. Now is the time to embrace intellectual diversity and create an atmosphere that encourages civil discourse. Faculty, carrying the right tools, can begin to instruct how to actively listen to each other and formulate intelligent responses based on facts and research. We can teach students it is OK to disagree on issues and still remain friends. Addressing difficult topics is essential, particularly in higher education, and colleges and universities need to provide appropriate events and venues for such debate. As educators, we must highlight the Justice Scalia-Justice Ginsburg friendship, the Tip O’Neill-Ronald Reagan collegiality, and the Ted Kennedy-George W. Bush alliance rather than focus on polarizing our nation further.
Unfortunately, social media and the age of disinformation and misinformation often dictate our opinions. In education, we can have extensive discussion about how to think critically about the masses of information spread through media. More than ever, it is imperative to distinguish fact from fiction, to ask questions and study all sides of an issue, not just one side. It is on school campuses this fall (and beyond) that we can break down barriers and take time to seek truth in information, together.
Places of higher education need forums where students can learn how to speak to each other. According to the Public Religion Research Institute, 43% of Americans polled believe that colleges and universities are working hard to unite people through education. This is true, educators know the grand responsibility they hold to be a thread in the fabric of our society. In fact, many can now refer to it as a duty.
As we have finally ditched Zoom for classrooms and have opened campuses nationwide, we can begin to heal and unite. At Nichols College, we intentionally teach students the value of intellectual diversity from orientation until commencement four years later. Once higher education leaders fully embrace intellectual diversity and root out indoctrination and disinformation, educators can hope to teach that civil discourse is a must in a democracy, and one that we play a key role in remedying.
Glenn M. Sulmasy is president of Nichols College in Dudley.
Glenn M. Sulmasy
Nichols College President Glenn M. Sulmasy
Fall and a new political season are upon us. In a deeply divided America, this year marks what can be described as an inflection point for educators and students. As the November elections approach, professors and teachers must take this opportunity to engage students in the deeply important function of the democratic process, free speech and civil discourse – what can best be described as embracing intellectual diversity of thought.
Today, we see our country at its highest moral and ethical divide. According to a Pew Research poll, 90% of respondents believe there are conflicts between people who support different political parties and six in 10 U.S. adults find it stressful to talk about issues. If you have been at a dinner party or community event of late, you know well that discussing differences in politics, even just the economy or inflation, can be polarizing. A nation will always face differing opinions, but what makes this country distinct is we can openly discuss our opinions and work together to find solutions to prevalent problems. The past few years have shown this task to be increasingly difficult. Family members and friends argue, and some have even stopped speaking to each other because of their differing standpoints on issues.
We are better than this.
Institutes for education – from the public sector to higher education – have an obligation to teach and foster conversation that unites and is free from personal attack. Now is the time to embrace intellectual diversity and create an atmosphere that encourages civil discourse. Faculty, carrying the right tools, can begin to instruct how to actively listen to each other and formulate intelligent responses based on facts and research. We can teach students it is OK to disagree on issues and still remain friends. Addressing difficult topics is essential, particularly in higher education, and colleges and universities need to provide appropriate events and venues for such debate. As educators, we must highlight the Justice Scalia-Justice Ginsburg friendship, the Tip O’Neill-Ronald Reagan collegiality, and the Ted Kennedy-George W. Bush alliance rather than focus on polarizing our nation further.
Unfortunately, social media and the age of disinformation and misinformation often dictate our opinions. In education, we can have extensive discussion about how to think critically about the masses of information spread through media. More than ever, it is imperative to distinguish fact from fiction, to ask questions and study all sides of an issue, not just one side. It is on school campuses this fall (and beyond) that we can break down barriers and take time to seek truth in information, together.
Places of higher education need forums where students can learn how to speak to each other. According to the Public Religion Research Institute, 43% of Americans polled believe that colleges and universities are working hard to unite people through education. This is true, educators know the grand responsibility they hold to be a thread in the fabric of our society. In fact, many can now refer to it as a duty.
As we have finally ditched Zoom for classrooms and have opened campuses nationwide, we can begin to heal and unite. At Nichols College, we intentionally teach students the value of intellectual diversity from orientation until commencement four years later. Once higher education leaders fully embrace intellectual diversity and root out indoctrination and disinformation, educators can hope to teach that civil discourse is a must in a democracy, and one that we play a key role in remedying.
Glenn M. Sulmasy is president of Nichols College in Dudley.