Continuing the transformation of universities from education to indoctrination centers, the University of California, San Diego, has announced the Jane Teranes Climate Change Education Requirement (JTCCER) for incoming first-year students, starting fall 2024. This requirement, approved by the Academic Senate, is a clear example of the university’s shift from fostering critical thinking to promoting a singular ideological agenda.
The Facade of Empowerment
The JTCCER is presented under the doublespeak guise of “empowering students with knowledge and skills”, however, by mandating a specific viewpoint on a complex and multifaceted issue, UC San Diego is effectively narrowing the intellectual horizons of its students, guiding them towards a predetermined conclusion rather than encouraging open inquiry.
Indoctrination Disguised as Education
The requirement does not increase the number of courses for graduation, but it does increase the ideological load.
Courses approved to satisfy the JTCCER will overlap with general education or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) courses, as well as courses that apply to major and minor requirements.
https://adminrecords.ucsd.edu/Notices/2023/2023-11-16-3.html
Courses approved for the JTCCER will overlap with general education or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) courses, as well as major and minor requirements. This integration ensures that the climate change narrative permeates various aspects of the undergraduate curriculum, leaving little room for dissenting perspectives or critical analysis.
The Illusion of Choice
While the list of courses satisfying the JTCCER will be made publicly available, the real choice is illusory. The courses, undoubtedly, will be designed to align with the prevailing climate change orthodoxy, offering a one-sided view of a highly debatable field. This approach stifles academic freedom and critical thinking, turning education into a tool for ideological conformity.
Honoring Ideology over Inquiry
The JTCCER is named in honor of the late Jane Teranes, a teaching professor known for her contributions to climate change education. It symbolizes the university’s commitment to a specific ideological stance, rather than a dedication to unbiased academic inquiry.
The Future of Academic Freedom
The formation of a new Senate committee to oversee the JTCCER’s implementation is a concerning development. It indicates a long-term commitment to embedding this ideological stance in the university’s curriculum. The committee’s role in finalizing criteria for JTCCER courses further consolidates the control over what perspectives are deemed acceptable.
Conclusion: A Step Towards Ideological Uniformity
UC San Diego’s JTCCER is another in a long line of troubling steps towards ideological uniformity and intellectual conformity. The ongoing shift from education to indoctrination, where students are molded into ideologically aligned activists rather than being equipped with the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate complex issues, has become of hallmark of universities nationwide.
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