From Spiked Online a view that the clampdown on ‘Islamophobia’ poses a grave threat to free speech. |
When it was brought to OCR’s attention that the criticisms were made from the student’s perspective as a principled vegetarian, it promptly apologised. But what is truly chilling is the implication that it would have been less merciful had she been criticising an Islamic practice in its own right.
Indeed, OCR seems relaxed about policing students’ opinions, saying it ‘takes all incidences of suspected offensive material against a religious group in exams very seriously’. Apparently, there are ‘rules which are set out for all exam boards in such cases’.
Do we want students to be afraid of applying their own critical thinking to anything and everything? Surely, in an academic context especially, religious practices and beliefs should be freely discussed?
Such censoriousness runs deep. It is increasingly accepted in certain quarters that there are such things as ‘illegitimate opinions’ that must be silenced, and that we must search for the unseen motives of those who hold them to determine the extent of their guilt.
Continue reading @ Spiked Online.
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ReplyDeleteDo we want students to be afraid of applying their own critical thinking to anything and everything? Surely, in an academic context especially, religious practices and beliefs should be freely discussed? ”
I have said the same thing on this blog over the past few weeks about the education system. The minute someone thinks out of the box/critically they get shouted down because their thought process is 'wrong'?...
My views on schools is simple..teach kids how to read, write, do maths and think for themselves...fcuk religion and teach history, warts and all...(all the subjectivity bin it<----unless it is Art's related) just lay out the facts...
Cuts both ways though. In the draft 80s, I wrote a stridently-feminist answer in my French A level (ideas were probably horsesfit, but the marker should only have been marking the language use and grammar) and had to get the marks queried. Turned out the marker, of a conservative disposition, had been incensed by my ideas and my marks suffered accordingly. In reality, there's always de facto censorship. As a Republican who ended up in white collar jobs in London and Dublin, I can assure you that, to this day, I censor myself every time I open my mouth. It's pure naivety to pretend that we have ever lived in a society characterised by free speech. If you belive that, all that reveals is that you have mainstream opinions and are too stupid to reflect on the parameters in which you are permitted to think without social or career censure. Chomsky is quite good on this point - the socialisation role of educational institutions in setting the parameters of acceptable discourse.
ReplyDelete“It's pure naivety to pretend that we have ever lived in a society characterised by free speech. If you belive that, all that reveals is that you have mainstream opinions and are too stupid to reflect on the parameters in which you are permitted to think without social or career censure.”
DeleteI don't buy into all that. Some I will agree with (we don't live in a free society etc) but I can assure you or anyone I will say what I think and without any fear. If people get upset because of what I say or how I think, it is their problem not mine. Have I personally been censured socially and career wise, 'Yes'...but at least I can look at myself in the mirror each day knowing I have not sold out my principals, my beliefs....
Part of the problem is people are afraid to say what they really want to/mean for fear of upsetting others, then they go home kicking themselves for not saying what they really wanted to. Fcuk that, if I have something to say, I will say it...