Time of transition: Preparing for the departure of their school president,
Louisiana College trustees elected an interim leader last week and affirmed
their policy on selection of classroom materials
Time of transition: Preparing for the departure of their school president,
Louisiana College trustees elected an interim leader last week and affirmed
their policy on selection of classroom materials
Four months after adopting what has been a somewhat controversial policy on
selection of classroom materials, Louisiana College trustees revisited the issue
to defend their decision.
“Theres been a lot of misinformation (regarding the policy), …”
trustee Tim Johnson of Choudrant said. “This resolution … helps better
inform the people as why weve taken the steps weve taken … and
helps to clarify the issue.”
In December, school trustees approved a new policy on selection of textbooks
and classroom materials. Until that action, faculty member had control over
what materials were used in their courses.
However, under the new selection policy, materials must be approved both by
department coordinators or chairs and the vice president of academic affairs.
The change has sparked criticism from some, who have complained the action
was inappropriate and represents a violation of academic freedom.
School trustees did not address the matter during their meeting in March. But
they did revisit it during a called board meeting on the Pineville campus last
week. Trustees also elected an interim president during the session.
During the meeting, trustees discussed and approved a statement that defended
their right – and responsibility – to take the action they took in
December. The statement also offers clear calls for faculty members to follow
stated policy or face “the consequences of his or her choice.”
The resolution suggests that not adhering to stated policy could result in
a violation of accreditation since the school would be straying from its stated
mission and purpose.
The resolution affirms academic freedom but insists it goes hand-in-hand with
academic responsibility. It offers several footnotes that cite existing college
policy that speak against sexual immorality, pay heed to the colleges
adopted faith statement and affirm the trustworthiness of the Bible.
The resolution was approved with some discussion but little opposition in open
session after a motion to consider the matter in executive session was defeated
on a voice vote.
One amendment was added to the approved resolution. It calls for sending a
letter of explanation to all Louisiana Baptist churches and the media, along
with a copy of the resolution and the selection policy adopted in December.
Stacy Morgan of Hammond offered the amendment and explained he would pen a
letter and seek consensus agreement from the board. He said he would seek to
be positive, explaining the selection policy was enacted in fulfillment of the
“great trust” given to the board. “This is an effort to communicate
with the churches,” Morgan emphasized.
The amendment was approved without opposition.
Trustees then spent time discussing the full resolution.
“What this resolution will do is carry the earlier resolution farther,
explaining where we got the authority from to make the decision we made,”
Johnson said. “The December 2 resolution we passed – we just didnt
take it out of a hat. … We based it on the authority we find (in college documents).”
Still, Fred Malone of Clinton opposed the proposed resolution “with reluctance,”
noting a process already is in place to address the selection of materials.
However, John Jeffries of Chalmette disagreed, saying the resolution is an
important means of clarification. Jeffries characterized the December action
as an effort to “nudge” the college forward in implementing existing
documents.
“The documents of this college already specifically state what is and
what is not appropriate in an institution of this type, …” he said. “There
has always been, in the documents of this institution, a clarion call for both
academic freedom and academic responsibility. What we are doing is seeking to
clarify what has been stated for many, many decades.”
Even so, Ed Tarpley of Pineville questioned why the resolution was necessary
since it creates no new policy.
“It is clarifying what we have known to be true but has been misrepresented
both in the media and in the letters we have been receiving (from others),”
Johnson said.
“The letters were getting – the ones Ive been getting
anyway – assume that we dont have the authority to do what were
doing when we do have the authority to do what were doing.
“Its our responsibility to protect what Louisiana Baptists believe
because we represent Louisiana Baptists,” Johnson added. “And until
laypersons have in their hands exactly what our charter and bylaws says, theyre
not going to fully understand why we do what we do. All theyre getting
is misinformation from those who dont like it because the board is trying
to adhere to policies already set up and established.”
Johnson emphasized that no one desires to harm the college but to see it grow
and improve.
Tarpley suggested a friendly amendment to the proposed resolution, moving to
change the final phrase of the statement – “When an individual chooses
to ignore the expectations or decisions of the group to which he or she is responsible,
that person must be prepared to face the consequences of his or her choice.”
Tarpley proposed changing the italicized phrase to “that person must be
held accountable for their actions.”
He suggested that is a “more positive way to put what youre trying
to say.”
Johnson spoke for retaining the original wording.
“Let me tell you where Im coming from,” he said. “On December
2, we passed a resolution. And our intent was that certain materials –
which are and should be offensive to believers – would not be taught in
the classroom, only to have some of the same material reintroduced in the spring.
“Why? Probably because there has not been consequences for prior actions.
Somewhere, we have to put some teeth in what we say. … Somewhere along the
way, these people need to assume responsibility for decisions that are made.
… Every action has a consequence. We can choose our actions, but we also have
to understand the consequences of those actions.”
Tarpley again urged a wording change.
“The policy adopted in December implemented a policy of accountability,”
he noted. “Thats what it was more than anything else. … It said,
henceforth, that the policy of the college would be that faculty would be subject
to a system of accountability. … That is the key word to be stressed –
accountability. And I think that if we say a person must be accountable
for their actions or must be held responsible for their actions, that conveys
it in a better way.”
On a subsequent show-of-hands vote, trustees voted 19-14 to retain the original
wording of the resolution.