Alternative Textbooks
Read this article in Inside Higher Education: Jon Stewart, Oral Exams and More, read the comments, then get back to me. (I'm really only interested in the Jon Stewart part.)
Okay, now that you've done that, what do you think? Here's my opinion.
Traditional textbooks are boring. They're crammed full of facts-as-portrayed-by-the-authors/editors. Yes, generally speaking, the material is truthful--I don't think the majority of textbook authors/editors really are trying to manipulate or persuade or put forth a particular political agenda. But the "just the facts, ma'am" approach to textbooks can be problematic. I was VERY interested in my intro to Pol Sci course as an undergraduate, and not only because I thought I had to be a Pol Sci major if I wanted to go to Law School. But the textbook was boring, and I didn't read it.
So the instructor in this article about the recent American Political Science Association annual meeting chose a different textbook, one authored by a well known left-leaning popular culture icon. I think one of the commenters was right to question whether the instructor would as blithely choose a book by Rush Limbaugh, or maybe Newt Gingrich, or what about Ann Coulter.
But what almost every commenter (and there are only 4 as I write) ignores, is the truth that TEXTBOOKS ARE BORING. I particularly love what Jerry Pattengale, AVP of Scholarship and Student Success at Indiana Wesleyan University, has to say: "It’s hard not to roll one’s eyes at the thought of anything by Stewart as a college text. Though a William and Mary grad, he seems to lack any sense of authority on issues related to political science curricula." I call shenanigans on that. He cites a few examples of Stewart's "self-proclaimed lack of authority," yet fails to realize that Stewart is not claiming a lack of authority but rather critiquing the way current news sources report. Pattengale is the one who tackles the bias issue, but that doesn't forgive his truly ignorant arguments otherwise. He calls the instructor's decision making "wanton." Um, really? Did you really even read the article? I do pity the poor students at Indiana Wesleyan if this is how their AVP of Scholarship and Student Success makes arguments.
Among the critiques within the article, "one professor said he had considered such a switch, but was bothered because so many of his students have the idea that 'the government sucks' and he fears that Stewart’s book reinforces that idea." Um, no. You're wrong, don't even try. They may have a "government sucks" attitude, but it sounds like Teten is helping them to THINK about why that is, which may end up making a difference. A boring textbook is not going to get them over that attitude.
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Danielle, As I note in various other forums, I appreciate people who take stands and express openly--and in the case of blogs, actually sign their opinions. My hope is that attempt to do the same--to sign my reflections--gains the same respect. You note that only four responses were posted. If you keep in mind that the site receives many thousands of readers, it shows that in many cases it's a no-win situation for faculty to post thoughts on controversial subjects. I disagree. The very thing that has made Stewart a celebrity is his willingness to be candid. The difference between his candour and ours, is that we have to have solid support for doing so. I'm sorry that you question whether I read the article--that's not a very solid way to take a writer to task. I actually researched this subject as well, as demonstrated by my response. I think that you actually quote one of my statements right before you criticize me--I ask if one would include a text by Rush as well and be accepted. Now, as to the heart of the matter as you see it. Are some textbooks boring? You bet. Some are dry as Scholastic dust. But others are brilliant and engaging. And, if your statement were absolutely true, then Stewart's book, now a textbook, would be boring. In one of my classes the text is "My Name is Asher Lev." Is that a boring book? Another, it's "Candide." Another it's "The Christians as the Romans Saw Them." Another it's Chaucer, Augustine and the HBJ anthology of the classics. I've had a couple of decades of students read these and became not only engaged, but continued to graduate schools worldwide. These ideas and concepts engaged both their minds and passions. Perhaps you make a point that Stewart's text can be used to engage them--but if so, this could be the only reason you would use it. The Poli. Sci. arena has a host of texts that certainly are anything but boring. Whether you're reading The Prince, Free To Choose or Samuel P. Huntington's Clash of World Civilizations, or a binder full of engaging articles wrapped around a solid outline, you are not spending precious class time reading from an untrained and ill-researched humorist. Danielle, Stewart is brilliant at that. He can be funny if not predictably slanted. As such, he'd certainly be capable of reading a "non-boring text." But for a professor to discard the role of a primary text for such simply is irresponsible. Again, if the Kentucky professor uses it in a tangential way only to spark discussion, maybe he's on to something. Otherwise, students will exit with a shallow experience. All of us in the academy have the opportunity to compile engaging articles into a resource guide. Publishers line up to help us to do this. It simply takes a bit of work to do so. Some texts already do this well. I trust that this helps a bit, and that your blog is useful. And, overall, I appreciate your engagement in this matter. JP
Posted by: Jerry Pattengale | September 19, 2007 8:07 PM