![\"\"](\"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/gender-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I generally teach mathematics. While this subject is usually considered brutally objective, in a real sense it\u2019s an ideology: the ultimate goal of my class is, indeed, to get all my students to chant the same thing at the same time, like a pack of local news journalists (and I use that word with maximum looseness).<\/p>\n
I worry that perhaps I\u2019m teaching a religion (and the great mathematician Godel would say my concerns may be valid). In ancient times, religion and mathematics were intertwined\u2014no real surprise, since mathematical results and calculations can seem like magic to the uninformed. But this is the modern world, and mathematicians no longer claim any particular god is relevant to their understanding.<\/p>\n
Now, \u201c1 + 1 = 2\u201d can be viewed as a definition or a calculation, but either way it\u2019s just an abstract thing. On the other hand, if I take one apple, put it next to another apple, I get something that looks much like \u201c2 apples,\u201d and my abstract calculation lines up with reality.<\/p>\n
Bottom line, mathematics might be a religion, or an ideology, but the things mathematics predicts and says line up with reality so consistently that I don\u2019t worry much about the possibility that I\u2019m teaching a false ideology. I honestly believe the concepts and beliefs I try to \u201cimpose\u201d upon my students are valid.<\/p>\n
I understand and respect that faculty in other fields likewise believe they teach True Knowledge, but there does seem to be a difference. When a student in my class corrects me, for example, I\u2019m willing to discuss it. Sometimes I do make an error after all, but often enough the student\u2019s correction is due to his incomplete understanding of my \u201cideology.\u201d So I listen to his concerns, and we try to resolve them using the \u201cideology\u201d of mathematical reason.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve never actually tossed a student from my class for disagreeing with me, which is why the title of the following is disturbing:<\/p>\n
College student kicked out of class for telling professor there are only two genders<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Now, there\u2019s a time and a place for such discussion, and never in one of my classes, thankfully. Perhaps if I\u2019d had a student come to my class and spout Marxist ideology, instead of mathematics, I might well toss him so I can get back to discussing my own system of belief.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026a Feb. 28 \u201cChristianity 481: Self, Sin, and Salvation\u201d lecture\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Christianity is something of an old religion. My knowledge of The Bible is sadly lacking, but I\u2019m confident there\u2019s nothing in there about there being 32 (more?) genders, which is all the rage nowadays. Heck, we\u2019ve had 2 types of bathrooms (one for each gender) for much of the modern world. So, we\u2019re in a course on Christianity, and he\u2019s saying something consistent with Christian ideology. Perhaps the context was inappropriate?<\/p>\n \u201cAfter showing a 15-minute TED Talk by transgender ex-pastor Paula Stone Williams\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen my share of TED talks. They vary wildly in quality, and this one is certainly not on the high end<\/a> (only a few are). I watched it so you don\u2019t have to, and a summary is as follows: \u201cno information.\u201d It\u2019s just a personal testimonial of a transgender person, with some opinions, presented in a \u201cstand up comedy\u201d format.<\/p>\n Anyway, was the student interrupting class with his fairly common interpretation of Christian belief?<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026the professor asked the women in the class to share their thoughts. When no women in the class said anything, Ingle spoke up, challenging the professor on biology and the gender wage gap.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The professor invited comment, and after the first-class citizens had nothing to say, this male, a second class citizen, spoke up. Did the student make his assertions strictly based upon scripture (a legitimate enough thing to do in some classes, but questionable in others)?<\/p>\n He told the class that the official view of biologists is that there are only two genders.<\/em><\/p>\n –he also backed his claim about the nonexistent \u201cwage gap.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Now, I don\u2019t honestly don\u2019t know the official view of biologists, but the student did back up his claim, and was only responding to a request from the professor. That said, this is heresy for many with the professor\u2019s ideology, and so we get a scary response:<\/p>\n The feminist professor booted him from class and asked him not to come back. She referred him to the public university\u2019s Academic Integrity Board (AIB). Ingle needs to complete the class to graduate at the end of the semester. A permanent punt from class! Wow, I\u2019ve caught students cheating in extraordinary ways, and admin won\u2019t take them out of the classroom. What happened to higher education that academic fraud isn\u2019t a problem, but speaking words in opposition to the enforced ideology merits removal from a course?<\/p>\n Now, I don\u2019t have all the facts here, just what the article says, but apparently there was a hearing to address the list of charges against the student (I won\u2019t list them all), and the student was cleared.<\/p>\n All\u2019s well that ends well? Maybe, but I worry here. Just the fact that the student was brought up on charges for questioning the narrative is going to have a chilling effect on this campus. Students which know about this case, and know the truth, are going to be disinclined to argue when professors speak lies\u2026it\u2019s called \u201cscholarly pursuit\u201d not \u201cscholarly keep-your-mouth shut.\u201d<\/p>\n I do love articles with comments sections, as they allow people to come in and make clarifications. One of the professor\u2019s colleagues added some information:<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an absolutely stunning witchhunt mischaracterization of Professor Downie originated by the misogynist white nationalist Ethan Ralph\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n –can it be a witch-hunt when the professor who made the charges isn\u2019t even charged with anything? I do wish logic wasn\u2019t ever more constrained to mathematics\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n Wow! As one might expect, this is another feminist professor coming in to protect one of her own. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, but I\u2019m so, so, tired of anyone who challenges the narrative being classified as a RACIST. Am I being unfair in that characterization? After all, she only labeled him as a \u201cwhite nationalist\u201d and I suppose that\u2019s not the same thing. Whether \u201cwhite nationalist\u201d is another phrase meaning RACIST need not be determined, as her screed continues:<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026I suffer no lack of clarity of what this assault is really about: silencing professors who refuse to tow the racist, misogynist, homophobic agendas of characters like Mr. Ralph.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n So, yes, she\u2019s pretty much calling this kid RACIST for advancing an argument supported with facts. This really is what much of higher education is turning into, not simply indoctrination, but forceful indoctrination where alternative views, even ones with valid arguments, cannot be heard, only shouted down with the name-calling I\u2019ve heard so many times before.<\/p>\n At least when students tell me I\u2019m wrong, I allow them to speak and address their concerns. I\u2019ve never once called one RACIST for challenging my beliefs, and so once again I find reason to believe my ideology of mathematics is superior.<\/p>\n www.professorconfess.blogspot.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\n<\/em>
\n —wait\u2026why is a feminist teaching a Christian course?<\/em><\/p>\n