Dr. Neil Hair

Just finished reading a couple of reports on the issue of politics in the classroom and how professors claim or are being claimed to influence student thinking. This got me thinking about my own personal position and for what it's worth – here it is. I advocate the position of neutrality in my classes for a number of reasons – the most important being – students come to my classes to learn about the subject matter not my personal political views. Of course if youre teaching political science or history you cant help BUT talk about politics and the political landscape. Theres clearly a time and place for it and internet marketing isnt it (unless there are policy issues relating to it – in which case we talk about the implications not the parties). I go one step further though, when asked about my political beliefs I refuse to answer. My politics are my own. No one elses. I always felt these discussions were divisive and so I leave them for home. As a result, my more liberally minded friends think I am liberal, and my more conservative friends think I am conservative. I like to keep it that way. Bringing this back to relevance for student readers – whilst your mileage may vary (I love that saying) – I advise students to avoid political commentary in their professional lives (unless of course they are in politics) – consider your readership – avoid the potentially incendiary email signatures screaming for one party or the other, avoid the twitter messages that take you off target, watch the blogs. Of course much of my thinking comes from a classical British point of view when it comes to politics – no one cares who you vote for – just that you vote. It is definitely different here what with it being acceptable for Madonna and Barbara to hold lectures on politics during live performances or Oscar winning Romans using their stardom to tote the benefits of gun ownership. My own personal favourite though has to be Screaming Lord Such of the Monster Raving Loony Party in the UK. He promised back in the 90's that if he were to become Prime Minister he would immediately initiate a plan to have all dog poop painted fluorescent Orange so that people would no longer fall foul of it. Now that's surely a vote winner! Looking forward to Wednesday…