Daniels' attack on academic freedom

Academic freedom is one of the cornerstones of American universities.

Universities are places of discovery, of challenging preconceptions and of comparing ideas. Indiana is known for its world-class public universities, including our beloved institution and its rival sibling up on the Wabash.

It seems, however, that former Indiana governor Mitch Daniels — currently Purdue’s president — did not understand this concept during his time in the Statehouse.

According to documents acquired by the Associated Press, he tried to interfere with professors’ academic freedom at Indiana’s public universities. He called Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States,” a well-known history text, “a truly execrable, anti-factual piece of disinformation that misstates American history on every page” and called for its banning from Indiana schools. He also referred to the book as “propaganda.”

Daniels’ actions are extremely problematic.

First, it seems obvious they were politically motivated. Zinn was well known for his leftist sympathies, and his book is probably the most popular work detailing the class struggles throughout American history.

In fact, one of his emails even contained vitriol against Zinn personally, calling him a “terrible anti-American academic.” Daniels’ attacks on Zinn’s work and character stem from the fact that Zinn’s portrayal of the struggle of the working class and ethnic minorities challenges the presuppositions of Daniels’ conservative views.

Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, Daniels’ attempts to disqualify Zinn’s works are an attack on academic freedom.

The American Association of University Professors’ 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure — still the basis of thought about academic freedom in American universities — says this, in part: “Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject[.]”

There is no doubt that Zinn’s work is controversial, both to the public and among historians. But “A People’s History” is also not “anti-factual” or “propaganda” — it is simply a work that challenges ingrained, happy notions about American society.

Apparently Daniels takes such umbrage at this message that he wanted it banned from Indiana schools.

Since the story was released, Daniels has defended his comments. He claims he did not intend to ban the book in university courses, only “the K-12 system.”

Yet his emails were directed to the Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education and specifically mentioned a course at IU.

Daniels cannot say his actions were apolitical. Even when claiming to be concerned only with accuracy, he cannot deny that his own sense of historical accuracy is informed by his political beliefs.

As a matter of representation, it is important that Indiana students learn different perspectives on history — as long as those views are reasonably well-supported and presented in the appropriate context — even if they butt up against the political views of the Governor.

Most people view history through the lens they learned in school. This view is incomplete — U.S. textbooks are often full of inaccuracies and often gloss over unpleasant aspects of American history.

It is important to look at all perspectives on history, including those of ethnic minorities, women, immigrants and the working class, as Zinn does.

Mitch Daniels’ attempts to erase these ideas, these stories, these people, out of the Indiana curricula are an attack on academic freedom and a detriment to Indiana students.

­— estahr@indiana.edu