I JUST SAT THERE AND KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT

Last night I attended the College of the Marxists annual employee recognition dinner. As a retiree, I get invited every year. This was only the second one I've attended since I retired 15 years ago. I must admit it was nice to meet some old friends again. Another retired teacher came up to me and informed me her son-in-law, a former student of mine, had advanced through the ranks of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to become one of its high ranking admiistrators. Naturally, that really made me feel good.

Before the start of the affair, I talked to a young, obviously well-educated police officer about his experience in the government course he took at the college. The course was taught by David Michael Smith, an avowed Marxist. I asked the officer what he had learned about government in that course. He replied, "Nothing about government. I just sat there and kept my mouth shut." He went on to explain that students could not take Smith on because he had years of experience practicing the art of defending his (anti-American and anti-capitalist) positions.

The Marxist instructors at the college teach government, history and economics courses. Government and American History are required courses for most degrees, thereby providing these instructors with a captive audience. Since this college is a state funded institution, it is required to follow the curriculm guidelines set forth by the State of Texas. But, for the most part, that is not what the students get from their Marxist instrctors.

Marxists are imbedded in the faculties of most institutions of higher learning. Their goal is to replace capitalism with "socialism," a less abrasive term than "communism." Their teachings dwell on the evils of capitalism and proclaim the virtues of socialism. And since America is closely identified with capitalism, their teachings emphasize a littany of what they perceive to be our government's past and current domestic and foreign transgressions. That constitutes brainwashing and indoctrination, not education.

Over the years, many students at College of the Marxists have complained about being subjected to a constant drumbeat of "anti-Americanism" and the usual Marxist claptrap - America goes to war inorder to enrich the oil companies and other multi-national corporations; America exploits its workers and oppresses the masses; America is a sponsor of state terrorism; America is an imperialist power; etc..

There is no question that America has had its flaws and continues to have them. However, academic responsibility requires educators to present both sides of any controversial issue. One-sided teaching would only be justified if courses were, for example, entitled ANTI-AMERICANISM 101, EVILS OF CAPITALISM 101, or VIRTUES OF COMMUNISM 101. At least that way students are given a good clue about what to expect before enrolling in such courses.

Whenever anyone denounces their questionable classroom activities, the Marxists respond by screaming that their right of "Academic Freedom" is being attacked. That is a clever ruse used to garner the support of other faculty members, since most college teachers count on that doctrine to protect their jobs. It is astounding how few college professors actually know what academic freedom entails. And many wimpy college administators also do not understand the principles of academic freedom, or worse yet, deliberately turn a blind eye to any violations thereof. As for the trustees at College of the Marxists, they probably do not have a clue as to what Academic Freedom is really all about.

The PRINCIPLES OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM were formulated years ago by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and by the American Association of University Professors. These principles were designed to protect college teachers from reprisals for expressing unpopular opinions in the classroom. However, they do not give teachers license to practice intellectual deceit and dishonesty in the classroom or to brainwash and indoctrinate their students.

Many academicians believe the Principles of Academic Freedom leave them free to say and do almost anything in the classroom without fear of retribution. Nothing could be further from the truth. The principles include specific obligations and prohibitions. Academic Freedom requires that teachers "should at all times be accurate, SHOULD EXERCISE APPROPRIATE RESTRAINT, ........... ." The principles were formulated for the "free search for truth" and "NOT TO FURTHER THE INTEREST OF ............ the individual teacher."

In 2002, some reputable community leaders and other civic-minded citizens joined me in pleading with the college's Board of Trustees not to grant David Smith tenure. My opposition was based on his violations of the Principles of Academic Freedom, on his practice of intellectual deceit, and on his attempts to brainwash and indoctrinate the students in his classroom. I figured our pleadings would fall on deaf ears. Because he is very charming and hands out good grades, it was not surprising that many students, both young and old, addressed the Board to request that Smith be granted tenure. And that is exactly what the Board did by a unanimous vote.

Ralph Holm was one of the trustees at the time. When he first ran for a position on the Board, I donated money to his election campaign and personally took out ads on his behalf in two local newspapers. During a Veterams Day event at the college, well after Smith had been granted tenure, Holm approached me and apologized for the Board's action.

When I questioned Holm on why he voted to grant Smith tenure, he replied, "We had no choice. He was so popular with the students." I looked him straight in the eye and said, "What's that got to do with anything? Hitler was also very popular with the Germans." Holm turned red in the face, spun around and left. We have not spoken since.

And so it goes at College of the Marxists where students who detest all that anti-Americanism, like the police officer I talked to, continue to sit in Smith's classes and suffer in silence. And, as long as COLLEGE OF THE MAINLAND continues to support instructors who espouse anti-Americanism in mandatory Government and American History courses, I shall continue to call it "College of the Marxists."