[fintstone]

Originally posted by CamB
I agree with Todd - both sides do it.
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The second half bemoans the fact that there are no Republicans in academia. Is this because of bias? Or because of some other factor (eg pay rates? personality suited to academia is inclined to be liberal? more study = more likely to see the light (j/k)).
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Yes, I certainly believe that to be the case due to our tenure system. It is like a club where you only let those in that think the way you do. Conservatives are treated poorly on most campuses and they pay the price with harassment and poor grades for their views. If they are not academically disqualified for their views, they are certainly discouraged against academia as a career move. Even if they still wanted to teach, they would have to be realistic about ever getting tenure if their politics were ever recealed. They would be silly to waste years on such a career knowing that in the end...they would be kept from tenure.

The last study I read on the subject indicated that those students that chose the teaching profession in the US were from the lowest scoring group both test and grade wise at college entrance....so I imagine that most would not see "the light" you speak of.......that is why the indoctrination is so successful.