"As reported by the Harvard Crimson student newspaper, reflecting on the present challenges to institutions around accusations of intolerance and hostility to free debate, Garber came down firmly on the side of not debating (bold is mine): "I'm pleased to say that I think there is real movement to restore balance in teaching and to bring back the idea that you need to be objective in the classroom.""
"Instead, I introduced students to the values that I believe properly attach to personal expression through writing-which is what all scholarship is, after all-values like transparency, openness, fairness, accuracy and curiosity (among others). They need to practice these things in order to build trust with their audience in the effort to be convincing, not as some kind of objective authority, but as someone who has proven themselves trustworthy through the deployment of sound writing practices and respect for the audience."
Some institutional responses call for restoring 'objectivity' and balance in classroom debate amid accusations of intolerance and hostility to free debate. Emphasizing objectivity as a teaching goal can push students toward performative authority, prompting them to mimic erudition rather than practice sound expression. Teaching writing benefits from instilling values such as transparency, openness, fairness, accuracy, and curiosity so that writers build trust with audiences. Writers should demonstrate trustworthiness through clear positioning, rigorous evidence, and respectful engagement rather than claiming neutral authority. Building trust and practicing these values increases persuasive potential even when agreement is not guaranteed.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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