Department’s staff diverse in
ideology
Your writer, Andrew Jones, wrote a column about the supposed
leftism of the professors in the UCLA Political Science department
and on the campus more generally (“Campus
suppresses “˜right’ education,” Daily Bruin,
Oct. 31).
In the article, Jones indulged in a very vulgar attack on
teaching and, indirectly, on the university more broadly. His wit
took him no further than parroting the old “those who can,
do, and those who can’t, teach” adage.
No true conservative believes this folderol.
True conservatives see teachers as links to the past, to the
best of our traditions, and to the dialogues through which we
reform these traditions, in a piecemeal and incremental
fashion.
Jones shows disrespect and ingratitude since he would not be
benefiting from the excellent institution he is currently enrolled
in were it not for the teachers in his past.
Jones’ unthinking acceptance of vulgar clichés makes
him a very irresponsible representative of the conservative
position he claims to admire.
Fortunately, modern conservatism is considerably more
sophisticated than what we find in Jones’ column.
Also, for the record, the Political Science Department at UCLA
is host to a range of ideological positions, including several
forms of conservatism, and classes are taught from a host of
positions, from left to right, and from many places in between.
Brian Walker Assistant professor Political
science
Liberal bias exists in high schools, too
Andrew Jones is to be commended for his article (“Campus
suppresses “˜right’ education,” Daily Bruin,
Oct. 31). As a former social studies teacher for 34 years with
the Los Angeles Unified School District and a graduate of UCLA, let
me assure Jones that liberal orthodoxy dominates secondary
education as well. And while not as evident as on the university
level, the storm troopers of the left are still not at all hesitant
to hurl the toxic and career-limiting charge of racism, xenophobia,
etc. at those who challenge their shibboleths.
Continue to stand tall, Jones, and the very best wishes to you.
Hopefully, we can look forward to a renaissance of John
Milton’s “marketplace of ideas” and real
diversity at our universities.
Alan Benson UCLA alumnus