“Liberal” in liberal education does not mean what many people think.

“Ignorance, combined with power, is the most ferocious enemy of justice.” — James Baldwin

African American author James Baldwin, one of the preeminent American intellectuals of the 20th century, spoke eloquently about the importance of preserving academic freedom and liberal education in American colleges and universities. Baldwin writes:

“The paradox of education is just this: when people begin to become conscious, they begin to examine the society in which they are educated. After all, the purpose of education is to see the world for themselves and make decisions for themselves. It is about creating in humans the ability to decide for themselves whether God exists or not, to say to themselves that this is black or this is white, whether it is heaven or not. Learning to live with doubt is the way to achieve one's own identity. But no society really wants to have such a person around. What society really wants ideally? are people who simply follow society's rules. If a society succeeds in this, it will perish.”

Baldwin's warning resonates strongly with those of us who have dedicated our lives to higher education in Florida. Governor DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature have systematically limited students' ability to question the status quo and achieve their own identities. DeSantis complained that so-called liberal political indoctrination and “gender ideology” is being forced on students. The public is given the view that our universities contain a monolithic, highly politicized elite who seek to impose a “woke” and politically correct view of humanity that overturns traditional values. . This highly reprehensible political attack is completely false.

The harmful practices of Florida government have been well documented by numerous organizations and scholars, including: Defunding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Bullying of students and educators who support LGBTQ+ people. and attacks academic fields such as sociology and women's and gender studies.

The governor specifically targets transgender students, immigration, school boards, and higher education curriculum, accreditation and tenure. According to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), all of this results in “undermining 40 years of civil rights laws and practices aimed at greater equality and justice for African Americans, immigrants, women, and LGBTQ+ people.” became. In response to the elimination of DEI programs, the NAACP urged Black student-athletes to reconsider attending Florida's public universities.

Furthermore, Florida State leaders do not want students to question a version of American history that is filled with romanticized notions of our nation's history. HB 7, known as the “anti-woke bill,” specifically violates academic freedom and instead requires professors to adhere to political indoctrination and a strict conservative ideological agenda. The law prohibits “teaching certain topics or presenting information in certain ways,” and states that “systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the American system.” ” is prohibited. Although the law is being challenged in court, it has already succeeded in chilling and restricting the free exchange of ideas at universities across Florida. The AAUP characterized Florida's actions as “a politically and ideologically motivated attack unprecedented in American history that threatens the very existence of meaningful higher education in the state and has dire implications for the entire nation.”

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For those of us who believe in the fundamental connection between an educated citizenry and democracy, the fight to reverse these harmful practices and restore academic freedom in Florida remains a top priority. be. If we become complacent, Baldwin may unfortunately turn out to be right and our democracy may perish. Universities play an important role in teaching students to distinguish between logical argument and indoctrination. Democracies depend on educated and informed citizens who can distinguish persuasive and rational analysis as opposed to demagoguery and political opportunism.

To be clear, by “liberal” education I do not mean an education that indoctrinates students with the values ​​of political liberalism or economic neoliberalism. Rather, the word “liberal” in academia comes from the Latin liber and the Greek eleutheros, both of which mean “freedom.” In this way, the liberal educational tradition celebrates and fosters human freedom. Students are required to develop the ability to critically examine themselves and their traditions. This means accepting any belief as authoritative simply because it has been passed down by tradition or promoted by a governor or university professor. All theories and ideas, including controversial approaches such as critical race theory and structural racism, should be freely discussed and debated. Ideas, theories, and beliefs are therefore accepted or rejected only on the basis of logical arguments, valid explanations, and verified facts.

As liberal arts teachers, we teach our students the timeless themes of human nature that have guided humanity for hundreds of years. The works and ideas of major thinkers in human history (Aristotle, Mencius, Shakespeare, Du Bois, etc.) are placed in dialogue with new 21st century topics of great importance to Americans today.

As a professor for more than 30 years, I have strived to help students develop empathy and understand what it is like to experience life from a perspective other than their own. To achieve this goal, we will use new and emerging sources, including the history and culture of non-Western peoples, the treatment of ethnic and racial minorities in the United States, the experiences and accomplishments of women, the history and concerns of LGBTQ+ people, and global thinking. A topic has appeared. citizenship. A liberal arts education helps students recognize their connections to other people and their obligation in a democracy to use that knowledge responsibly.

As Baldwin said, reading Charles Dickens “taught me that the thing that most tormented me was the very thing that connected me to all the people who were or had ever been living.” It was interesting to hear. Through his reading of Dickens, Baldwin was able to identify commonalities in the positions of the poor and dispossessed throughout history and connect them to the struggles of African Americans throughout his life.

Affirming our common humanity across time and space through reading classic and timeless works like Dickens is a powerful example of the influence of liberal education. DeSantis seems to be implying that assigning the work of queer writers like Baldwin is imposing a “gender ideology” on students. This is nonsense. Baldwin remains an inspiring example of a liberal intellectual who helps us better understand the world. Such knowledge improves us all and strengthens our democracy.

William F. Felice is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Eckerd College and the author of six books on human rights and international relations. Contact him through his website. williamfelice.com.