For more than a century, Indiana’s Republican politicians and courts have diligently fought to sustain the legacy of D.C. Stephenson, from attacks on labor unions, to women’s rights, to people of different religious faiths.
But now the State, through its firing of an Indiana University professor, has achieved its crown jewel via a so-called intellectual diversity law, which basically means that nothing can be taught unless it merits the MAGA seal of approval.
Despite the pompous sounding name, it is evident what this law is really meant to accomplish — the teaching of a sanitized, white, patriarchal, pseudo-Christian triumphalist view of America in public and higher education. After all, keeping America’s youth oblivious to oppression and injustice means they are less likely to recognize and resist them.
So congratulations Indiana, you’ve achieved the ultimate paradox. Now students can go to an institution of higher education and actually come out less intelligent than when they went in.
D.C. Stephenson would be proud.
David R. Hoffman, Retired Civil Rights and Constitutional Law AttorneySouth Bend, IN
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: State’s firing of IU prof the latest in GOP aim to control education
Reporting by David R. Hoffman, Letters to the Editor / The Herald-Times
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By David R. Hoffman, Letters to the Editor | USA TODAY Network
