Mainstream higher academia claims to worship “academic freedom”
and “free speech” as its highest goods. Alas, Larry Summers is
probably preparing his resume while Ward Churchill hits the
speaking circuit. Now comes Scott McConnell, an Army veteran and
until recently a graduate student in education at Le Moyne College
in Syracuse, New York. For advocating a conservative policy, he has
learned firsthand where academic freedom draws the line.
On paper, McConnell performed well at Le Moyne. Last March, he
was conditionally accepted in the Master of Science for Teachers
program, grades 7 through 12, for the summer and spring semesters.
Upon earning at least all “B’s” in his first four courses and
completing course deficiencies from his undergrad work, McConnell
would be a full student. In his five classes at Le Moyne, he
received one B-plus, three marks of A-minus, and one A. Across the
board, his supervising teacher at Franklin Elementary School judged
him “excellent” and wrote, “Scott has been a joy to have in the
classroom.” McConnell met all the conditions set forth in his
provisional acceptance letter.
So how did McConnell merit rejection from Le Moyne, a college
run by the Jesuit order of priests, who are notorious for
tolerating nearly any opinion? He dared to write in his “Classroom
Management Plan” last November that multiculturalism has no place
in his classroom and that he will firmly discipline his students,
including using corporal punishment when appropriate, if legal, and
the child’s parents are involved. He wrote that, unless situations
dictate differently, he would treat all students alike. He would
positively reinforce good behavior, heavily involve parents, and
build respect instead of self-esteem. The paper earned an “A-minus”
from instructor Mark Trabucco, and a note, “Interesting ideas —
I’ve shared these w/ [Education Department Chair and Director of
the Graduate Education Program] Dr. [Cathy] Leogrande.” Trabucco
wouldn’t discuss with McConnell why he’d “shared” McConnell’s paper
with Leogrande.
Less than a week before spring classes began last month,
McConnell received a letter from Leogrande. She informed McConnell
that he would not be allowed to register for the spring because she
had “grave concerns regarding the mismatch between your personal
beliefs regarding teaching and learning and the Le Moyne College
program goals.” McConnell told TAS that when he tried to
learn from Leogrande what the specific mismatch was, she
acknowledged that his classroom philosophy as described in his
paper was the only reason for his rejection.
Legally, Le Moyne was probably within its rights. College
Director of Communications Joe Della Posta said that since Le Moyne
expects litigation and is bound by student privacy laws, he could
not specifically discuss McConnell’s case. The college has issued a
statement asserting its “right to accept or reject — based on a
variety of criteria — an individual for acceptance as a
matriculated student. If we believe a student is not suitable for
the classroom based on, among other things, his or her educational
philosophy, we have an obligation as an institution to act in a
matter that is consistent with the college’s mission and that
upholds New York State law and education regulations.” Certainly Le
Moyne, like any other private institution, is free to determine its
membership and terms thereof.
Politically, however, Le Moyne’s education program is now
exposed as little more than thought camp. McConnell had never
voiced such beliefs in class other than the “Classroom Management
Plan.” There was no pattern of an intractable extremist resisting
Le Moyne’s pedagogical wisdom. Rather, McConnell was unpersuaded by
Le Moyne’s philosophy of letting the students run the classroom and
treating children as equals. Leogrande never asked McConnell about
his views. It was enough for McConnell to express himself once for
Leogrande apparently to conclude that he would be a poor candidate
for ideological conformity. Leogrande did not return TAS’s
call to her office.
In response to TAS’s inquiry about academic freedom at
Le Moyne, Della Posta released a new statement from the college
affirming its commitment to academic freedom and First Amendment
rights. Reiterating the themes of the college’s previous statement,
it argued that it must consider whether “students subscribe to the
values of the College’s mission, and willingly accepts the
professional and legal responsibilities of a member of the relevant
profession.” Le Moyne said such values guiding the teaching
profession are “treating all students with respect and dignity, and
creating learning environments that nurture self-confidence in the
context of diversity. Le Moyne believes it is obligated to take
into account whether a potential teacher… rejects those
values.”
Surely Le Moyne’s grand tradition of academic freedom could have
room for McConnell and his philosophy. The college handbook states
that “Le Moyne shares the ideals of academic freedom found in
American institutions of higher education.” And the college’s “peer
discrimination” policy is blanket liberal tolerance dogma.
Furthermore, most Jesuit schools allow nearly any viewpoint and Le
Moyne is no exception. Professor Fred Glennon, Chair of the
Religious Studies Department, readily endorses gay marriage. Last
year, Le Moyne hosted Jesuit moral theologian Edward Vacek to
lecture on “The Meaning of Marriage.” He has written that
homosexuality “may even be a form of authentic Christian
spirituality” and has also endorsed gay marriage. If this Catholic
college’s academic freedom allows supposed theologians attacking
church teaching, why not McConnell, who merely believes in firm
discipline?
As for McConnell, he’s seeking legal advice and will consider
action against the college. For now, he has enrolled at the State
University of New York at Oswego.
