Knowledge Is Power Which Should Not Be Abused

The article written by a former college student, Jenny Samuel laments that she is taking a class this semester where the professor has a reputation for forcing his liberal political views down the throat of his students. She laments that this is unfortunate and damaging to the students as college is meant to be about  finding yourself and formulating your own opinions.

http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/16786/professors-should-leave-bias-out-of-classroom

Knowledge Issues

Is bias on knowledge an issue of ethics or an issue of perception?

Should one man's perception on a subject matter effect another man's knowledge?

Is prejudice and discrimination propagated by listening to the biased one sided perceptions of an authority figure?

There are many sides to any story, and this is graphically illustrated when we look at cards of silhouettes  of the kind that psychiatrists hold up and ask us what is the first thing we see. On closer inspection we see there is another hidden image. This holds true of opinions, there is never a right or wrong in many cases simply a personal view point. This view point or perception of seeing something is often bathed in the experiences we have had in the past. 

We grow up with the authority figure firstly of our parents, grandparents and then teachers. And since these are our earliest influences we value and hold their words of wisdom as gospel. However, the article, "professors should leave bias out of classroom" complains that college level professors should not influence or force their opinions down the throat of impressionable college kids. College is the final stage of a students formal learning curve and is designed that students should think out of the box. We no longer need to color within the lines. Knowledge is now not about being handed out ideas but by doing research and putting a spin on events. We are encouraged to invent and create and not assimilate information and repeat it parrot fashion. But how damaging is if when strong opinions in college or prior to college come from an authority figure. After all, it goes against upbringing to defy or challenge. We are taught to respect authority. But does this influence cause us to become prejudiced, biased reaching the scales of discrimination and racist? Yes, if we don't have the time to formulate our own opinions then our influenced opinions can make us have a one sided way of looking at the world. For example, if your college professor rants and raves about nuclear disarmament then due to respect we believe these one sided  arguments and never see the other side of the coin. Racial, religious discriminations are borne of our environment and background and are more the more dangerous as they are passed down from generation. It fine to hear someone else's opinion but true knowledge comes from analysis and from making counter arguments rather than blind acceptance. 

Knowledge is power and those who hold this power should not abuse it.

Samuels, Jenny. "Professors should leave bias out of classroom - CollegiateTimes.com." Virginia Tech, Blacksburg & New River Valley News - CollegiateTimes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. .