Does NoIndoctrination.org have religious, political, or institutional affiliation or bias?
None, whatsoever. We have balanced political party representation, and education is our sole focus.
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Why do most of the postings on your site complain of "liberal" bias?
NoIndoctrination.org is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that will post any valid complaint of sociopolitical indoctrination - from the left or right. We get feedback from students of all political persuasions who agree with the mission of our organization. While most postings on our website concern blatant "liberal" bias, we have attempted to solicit postings from a wide spectrum of views. NoIndoctrination.org has contacted college debating societies, history clubs, political clubs (both conservative and liberal), music clubs, and others; but we have received only a few postings against blatant "conservative" bias. Sociopolitical indoctrination is wrong - no matter the perspective.
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Does NoIndoctrination.org really think anyone can do anything about courses and programs that exhibit severe bias?
Yes. There is no other Web site where students can seriously and thoughtfully report what they often perceive as unprofessional and exploitative behavior: the use of courses and programs to advance personal social and political agendas. The site provides taxpayers, donors, and tuition-payers with a virtual window into what kinds of instruction their dollars are underwriting. We believe that here, as elsewhere, transparency will promote change. Colleges and universities must enforce the statements on academic freedom, professional responsibilities, and professional ethics that they claim to endorse.
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Why are the student postings anonymous?
Because students are obviously vulnerable to reprisals by instructors, they are not likely to post if their names are publicly revealed. We, however, do know the names of our posters. They are required to provide their names and email addresses when they post on our Web site, and NoIndoctrination.org contacts each one (by email and/or by phone) before any posting goes online. We expect our questions to be answered, and we ask for corroborating evidence when appropriate. We refuse postings that we do not judge credible.
Our Web site follows the practice that is standard in customer review Web sites and university-sponsored course evaluation books. However, unlike these other kinds of reviews, NoIndoctrination.org provides those who are criticized with an opportunity to respond.
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Why is the professor's name displayed on the course posting?
Since more than one professor can teach a particular course, the professor's name is listed on the course posting.
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How does NoIndoctrination.org minimize the chance of inaccuracies in student opinion postings?
NoIndoctrination.org does not accept all postings. Merely disagreeing with a professor's opinion or ideology does not constitute "indoctrination." We screen and check each posting, and we contact the student poster before any posting goes online. When appropriate, we may ask the student to send us corroborating material such as required readings or syllabi. As soon as a posting goes online, NoIndoctrination.org attempts to notify professors and administrators. They are invited and encouraged to submit a rebuttal posting. These rebuttals, when submitted, are placed directly beneath the student posting, and postings with a rebuttal are so marked. Students know professors have an opportunity to refute any specifics, and we hope this will encourage them to be sincere and honest in posting their opinions.
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Why have a few postings been taken offline?
Periodically NoIndoctrination.org re-evaluates our postings to make sure they still meet our standards for "indoctrination." A few early postings (while perhaps valid) were deleted when they no longer met our newer, stricter standards. In a couple of other cases, students requested that their postings be removed, and we honored their request. In one case the student felt the professor was genuinely apologetic, and the student believed the professor would change his ways. In another case the student believed his posting may have accomplished its goal because he understood that in a subsequent semester the professor was much fairer in presenting the course material.
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Doesn't the right of academic freedom guarantee the instructors' rights to present the material as they see it within a course where it is relevant?
There are several points that NoIndoctrination.org would like to make regarding this important question. (Readers may want to review our Academic Freedom page.)
First is the misuse of required freshman orientations and mandated programs such as writing skills courses. As some of our posters have described (and as NoIndoctrination.org has corroborated through its research), these programs can introduce irrelevant material (contrary to AAUP guidelines) in a blatantly biased way. When games, videos, lectures, and reading lists attempt to advance a sociopolitical agenda, it seems flatly unethical and highly unprofessional.
Second, according to AAUP statements it is improper for an instructor "to fail to present the subject matter of the course as announced to the students." Our research and some of the postings show that many courses are given a broad title, but then are presented from a narrow opinionated viewpoint-- with highly biased reading lists and very one-sided presentations. Instructors may have the right to teach the course that way, but if they are going to do that, it should be reflected in the title and course description. The fact that it may be permissible to present narrow opinionated viewpoints does not make it commendable, and our posters (who may feel misled by the course description) are free to criticize such a course.
Third, we read in many postings how some faculty members and TAs openly ridicule or even display outright hostility toward alternative viewpoints. Students describe being intimidated or even silenced. According to the AAUP, "As teachers, professors encourage the free pursuit of learning in their students." Also, they have "an obligation to respect the dignity of others, to acknowledge their right to express differing opinions, and to foster and defend intellectual honesty, freedom of inquiry and instruction, and free expression." Professors hold power over their students in the form of grades and letters of recommendations for graduate school and jobs. When students know their professor or TA is vehemently opinionated, freedom of inquiry and freedom of expression are stifled. This is not education as it is meant to be, and that is why the AAUP statements are clear on this point.
Academic Freedom does not mean freedom from criticism. Prior to NoIndoctrination.org, instructors had captive audiences, whereas students had no forum to express their resentment of one-sided, misleading, or hostile instruction. Now they have a voice.
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Can more than one posting be submitted about a particular course or orientation?
Yes, by all means. Multiple postings concerning a particular course or orientation are allowed - provided they are submitted by different students who personally experienced the bias.
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What types of "indoctrinating" courses and orientations does NoIndoctrination.org consider posting?
Regarding courses: Merely disagreeing with a professor's opinions or ideology does not constitute "indoctrination." Professors can legitimately express their opinions and biases, but when their social or political biases become so excessive that valid alternative viewpoints are denied, silenced, or ridiculed, open inquiry becomes impossible given the power difference between professor and student. The following are examples of the types of courses NoIndoctrination.org accepts for posting:
- Skills or methods courses that are used to advance the personal sociopolitical agenda of the professor - e.g., writing or speech courses that are used to push one-sided views concerning debatable social or political topics (affirmative action, globalism, sexual orientation, abortion, race, gender, etc).
- Courses where the professor frequently strays from the actual course subject and goes off topic in sociopolitical directions - e.g., an art history course of ancient Mesoamerica that is used as the professor's personal forum concerning Middle East issues.
- Courses where one would expect (given the advertised course catalog description) a wide range of views or topics to be discussed, but the professor narrows or politicized the course - e.g., a general history course that focuses primarily on oppression to the exclusion of other historical topics and events; a government course that presents politicized/partisan views, and alternative views are either silenced or presented with ridicule or hostility.
Regarding orientations: Many orientations, sensitivity workshops, or diversity training sessions are required for students. It is to be expected that these sessions would instruct students to be polite towards others. "Indoctrination," however, should not be part of the orientation experience. Films, sensitivity-type games, discussions, lectures, and hand-outs are often used to tell students what to think and what to believe. For example, they might be told they are an "oppressor" or a "victim" of oppression based solely on their race, gender, sexual orientation, or class. Students can be silenced, ridiculed, or told they are flat-out wrong if they disagree with the orientation leaders' ideologies. Such thought reform amounts to "sociopolitical indoctrination."
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What questions should a student consider when posting comments about a course?
Re: Lectures: Did lectures provide a range of ideas and viewpoints that would allow for the free and open search for truth? Was the subject matter consistent with the course catalog description? Was controversial material (either social or political) introduced that had no relation to the subject? If controversial topics were discussed, was there an attempt to convert students to a particular sociopolitical point of view? Was the course politicized? Were differing points of view met with ridicule and/or hostility?
Re: Discussions: Were students encouraged to offer opinions that differed from those of the professor/TA? Were students treated with respect and dignity if they politely voiced opposing views? Were their comments taken seriously? Did students feel intimidated to voice opposition?
Re: Reading materials: Did the assigned reading material reflect a range of viewpoints in a fair and balanced manner? Was the reading material consistent with what one would expect given the course catalog description? Was the material chosen to promote a particular agenda? If you believe the reading materials were biased, can you provide the titles/authors?
Additional questions: Did students feel as if they had to express the "correct" views in papers or exams? Did the Course Catalog accurately describe the course--i.e., was there "truth in advertising"? After reading the Academic Freedom statements on this Web site, how were the academic rights of students being abused by this course?
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What questions should be considered when posting comments about an orientation, training session, "debate," or teach-in?
Orientations, Sensitivity or Diversity-Type Sessions: What was the stated purpose for the orientation or training session? Did it appear to have a sociopolitical agenda? Were there specific movies, games, role-playing, or sensitivity-type sessions that reinforced the perceived agenda? Were students' comments, questions or concerns given a fair hearing and understanding if they ran counter to the "agenda"? Was ridicule, hostility, or intimidation encountered?
"Debates," Teach-Ins, Conferences or Forums: Which academic department organized the event? Was there a title of the event? What was its purpose? Were the speakers presenting only one side of a controversial topic? Was the event handled in a scholarly/academic fashion? Were politely expressed dissenting opinions welcomed and treated with respect? Was the event used to recruit student activists to a particular cause? (Please try to save any flyers, hand-outs, web advertising, etc.)
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