Censorship at the UA

I am taking an anthropology course this semester which I was extremely excited to take. I had thought that we would focus on other cultures and socities from around the world.

I was half right. We have focused almost exclusively on the United States and Latin America. From my perspective this is for two reasons. #1, my professor does her research in Latin America, and therefore believes it is the most interesting place on Earth. #2, my professor is a crazy left-wing radical liberal who has an agenda and plans to implement it.

(Unlike my professor) I have proof to back up my argument. This class requires that we read an assigned book and write a 4 page critical review about said book. In my first critical review I discussed the correlations between the book and current day congresspeople. It is safe to say that my position was rather unkind. I got a 70%. My second critical review blew the book's assertions right out of the water with solid facts about the welfare system. My professor stated that my argument was flawed and gave me an 80%. The third paper I agreed with everything the author said and gave the book a glowing review (not necessarily indicative of my true feelings) and would you believe it, I got a 90%.

I am proud of myself for performing my own little experiment, proving to myself and those around me that as long as you agree with the professor and the garbage books she makes you read, you get a good grade. If you are skeptical or disagree, well...here's your C. Now the true question is posed: do I write what I believe or do I write what she wants to hear, because my grade depends on it?

I want to make clear that I am not disgruntled because the professor doesn't agree with my opinions. I am disgruntled because she acts as if my position has no merit. The fact of the matter is that all discussions have two sides but this class is nothing but a forum for the professor to discuss her (correct) views on issues without ever mentioning the alternatives.

However, what I fear most of all is the indoctrination of the younger generation who are just at the beginning of discovering who they are and what they believe in. I am an old lady, fairly set in my ways, with a good handle of who I am and what I believe is right and wrong. These 18 year olds don't know the first thing about life, but here they have a person in a position of power telling them what they should or should not think.

It is my firm belief that the education system's purpose is to give all the information AND to teach the students to think critically about that information, not to spoon feed them the professor's agenda.