Lawmakers shouldn’t judge quality of class based on course names

Recently, Rep. Taylor Collins (R-Mediapolis), the chair of the house Higher Education Committee, gave examples of university courses he thinks should not exist, including one titled “Magic, Witchcraft and Religion.”

Many years ago, when I was an undergraduate math major, I took a course on folklore. It turned out to be a very demanding course; but I survived it. In the end, I had read several new books, and learned some things I hadn’t known. It was a worthwhile educational experience even though it was not specifically related to my major.

Contrary to Mr. Collins’s views, the universities do not indoctrinate students in any ideology. They just teach students things they didn’t know before. What’s most disturbing about Collins is that he seems to think that universities *should* indoctrinate their students – restricting them to the narrow bounds where he is comfortable.

Students at our state’s great universities are allowed to express their views. In fact, some courses require them to do so – and also to justify what they are saying. What is not tolerated at our universities is the kind of shallow thinking that Mr. Collins demonstrates when he makes judgments about the quality of courses based solely on their titles.

Russ Lenth

North Liberty