Neutral - Part 2

The Sacramento Bee carries a story about some UC-Davis professors protesting about President Drake's offer of financial resources to foster teaching of a "value-neutral" of Middle Eastern events. 

...[Eighteen] UC Davis professors signed a Nov. 20 letter raising concern about Drake’s desire to teach “viewpoint-neutral history” and called for him to rescind such language. UC Davis educators — who spoke out recently regarding their decision to sign the letter — along with more than 150 UC faculty said Drake’s comments undermine faculty’s autonomy in the classroom and undercuts their internationally renowned work..

Drake’s office issued a clarification on Nov. 30 about his Nov. 15 [offer], saying the UC system of 10 campuses remains deeply committed to “shared governance and academic freedom of faculty.” His office is working with campuses to pinpoint how funds should be distributed, the statement said. “These additional initiatives do not restrict or compel faculty activities in any way; they are optional and will be implemented in a way that reflects community input,” the statement said...

Full story at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article282761043.html.

As we have previously noted, arguing against "neutral" teaching in the popular press risks looking like an argument for teaching in a "biased" manner, or worse.* Whatever nuances may be intended do not come across. Moreover, as we have also noted, there is the Dartmouth model which involved two academics with differing perspectives co-presenting their views in a civil format. Again, here is a news account:

Or direct to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcBCmpqn708.

Something like the Dartmouth approach would likely be attractive to students, would meet the "value-neutral" criterion, and could receive the resources Drake referenced.

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*https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2023/12/dartmouths-example-in-dealing-with.html; https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2023/11/neutral.html.