U. Florida prof: Discussing race makes students uncomfortable … so let’s force them

A University of Florida professor and some of her students are urging the college president to include discussions of race in a required freshman course.

Professor Shelby Boehm, a full time instructor at a U. Florida-affiliated K-12 school who teaches “Examining Race” at UF, says making the “What is the Good Life” freshman requirement — a course on philosophy — include race would address the current “tensions rising on campus.”

“Because UF is committed to serving and respecting all students, I believe the idea is feasible,” Boehm said according to The Tab.

“Having a mandatory class would reach more students, but I’m thrilled with beginning a dialogue with UF about moving forward with more options for discussions on race.”

Boehm and her students recommend the following to U. Florida President Kent Fuchs:

–Mandatory classes to replace the good life focusing on discussion of race, gender, and religion

–There could be various selections of classes and students are allowed to choose one but all subjects are somehow weaved into the course

–Small, discussion based (no more than 20ish in a class)

–OR add more discussion of race into the good life, i.e. Change its focus

–Good life could also require students as part of a common activity to participate in at least one of the graham center’s discussions on race and the tensions on campus and write about their experience.”

The Tab piece points to several students who, like peers at other campuses, gripe that Fuchs isn’t doing enough to thwart instances of hate at UF.

“What will you do to prevent hate crime and hateful rhetoric? What will you do to defend the rights of UF’s Muslim, Jewish, Latinx, LGBTQ+ and immigrant students? What will you do to prevent assaults against women?” a student wrote to Fuchs in a November op-ed.

Apparently mandating “the instillation of racial respect and awareness” via a course could “be the action students are looking for.”

The fact that many students, according to Boehm, are disquieted with that sort of stuff, doesn’t appear to be much of a concern:

“I’ve found that people usually disregard topics that make them uncomfortable, yet this tactic does not prepare individuals for dealing with such topics when confronted by them in the personal or professional realm,” Boehm said.

So … you will sit still for your racial respect instillation!

Considering Ms. Boehm only graduated from college not even three years ago, I wonder just how many people she’s encountered who’ve expressed discomfort on “tough” (discussion) topics.

Not to mention, on what real world basis does she know that college-style racial indoctrination will benefit people in their personal and professional lives?