Opening Insights: Global "Safe Space" Culture Spree
The growing demand for SAFE SPACES is currently trending in universities around the world. Many of us haven't the foggiest notion of what on earth the students are demanding!
According to https://www.safeplaces.org.uk/:
A safe place helps vulnerable people if they feel scared or at risk while they are out and about in the community and need support right away.
What's the problem...? Well, we have a growing youth culture conditioned to believe they deserve to be heard, have things their way and be right. The cost of this generation of entitlement is being felt in businesses around the world who are pleading with universities for productive, employable and mature graduates, while they look to AI and automation for an alternative SOLUTION to humans.
The realities of the safe space culture are now finally being heard and acknowledged by the universities in which the culture has been allowed to perpetuate... as defined in an article by Camilla Tuner, Education Editor of the Telegraph UK.
Informational Insights: Emotions Trump Logic Bye-Bye Science
British universities will be less able to make scientific breakthroughs if they do not tackle the “safe space” culture, a minister has warned.
Jo Johnson, the universities minister, said that free speech is under threat at centres of learning across the country, with books being removed from libraries and lists of “trigger words” being banned for fear of causing offense.
He said that allowing "safe space" and "no-platforming" policies to prevail at universities will lead to a “slippery slope”.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he said: “I think it’s important that students going through our higher education system do learn to be resilient and deal with controversial opinions, to deal with views that challenge their most profoundly held beliefs or views that simply make them uncomfortable."
“Because if we fail to do that we will soon be on a slippery slope that ends up with a society that is less able to make scientific breakthroughs, less able to be innovative and frankly less able also to resist injustice. We need people to be able to deal with the uncomfortable.”
"No-platforming" is a practice in which a group or individuals seen to have unacceptable or offensive views are banned from taking part in a public debate or meeting.
Meanwhile "safe space" policies aim to ensure all students feel able to express themselves and are protected from views and language they find offensive, as well as discrimination.
Mr Johnson said that as well as a “proliferation” of these policies at universities across the country, there are other ways in which free speech is being threatened.
“Other manifestations of this erosion in the form of the removing certain books from libraries and the drawing up a list of extensive lists of trigger words that are undermining the principal of free speech in our universities,” he said.
Earlier this year, it emerged that a university had banned phrases such as “right-hand man” and “gentleman’s agreement” under its code of practice on inclusive language.
Cardiff Metropolitan University’s guidance dictates that “gender-neutral” terms should be used where possible, adding that students should not allow their “cultural background” to affect their choice of words.
It advises that the terms “forefathers”, “mankind” and “sportsmanship” should be avoided, as part of efforts to “embrace cultural diversity” through language.
[...]
The Office for Students, which will come into existence in January as the new regulator for higher education, will have new powers to fine or even de-register universities which fail to protect free speech.
Source: //www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2017/12/26/universities-will-less-able-make-scientific-breakthroughs-do/
Possibilities for Consideration: Community
2017 Pew Research shows that most Republicans in America have negative views about colleges and universities. Many large organizations have removed the college degree requirement from their entry level positions (i.e Ernest and Young). Many people are aware of the lack of character and creative thinkers coming out of universities today.
Oxford, especially, seems to have become a finishing school for wet, weak, generally wealthy liberals taught by Blairite civil servants. PPE there becoming questionable as a discipline.
- What is the purpose of a university education these days?
- Does a university have any value to students beyond the promise of being able to pass a test?
- If students do not learn how to find a safe space within, and demand it outside of themselves, what will the business environment look like in 20 years?
- Will university graduates find jobs with their "safe space" mentality?
- What can we do?
Add Your Insight: Are You Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution
Universities cannot afford to be complacent about complying either with their duties to protect freedom of speech, or anything less than vigilant against hate speech (or other unlawful activity) masquerading as the exercise of the right to freedom of speech.
JO JOHNSON
If you or someone you know is concerned about the "safe space" culture or looking to get out of it share your thoughts below and sign up for a workshop.