Today’s short entry is worth more than it seems.

I’ve come across an interesting organization that is probably well-known among right-wing activists, but not to me.

Here it is:

FIRE - Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

FIRE opposes speech codes, thought codes, and “race discrimination” [affirmative action-related programs] on campuses.

FIRE is an interesting group because they present their arguments couched in the language of libertarian freedom.

I’ve never been comfortable with speech codes, on free-speech grounds, and so I’m sympathetic to some of FIRE’s positions [but I have not extensively explored their site yet].

Today, I ran across one of FIRE’s interesting little battles: “Disposition Theory” in teacher education.

Here’s a quick take on Disposition Theory: Some teacher education degree programs seem to require students to accept the liberal party line on affirmative action and diversity, or else the students might fail the class. Dissenters from the party line do not seem to be tolerated.

For more about the Disposition Theory debate, see the following: US NEWS - Classroom Warriors, and see also FIRE - Washington State University: Use of Dispositions Theory to Enforce Ideological Orthodoxy

FIRE is worth a closer look, seems to me.