Zimmerman Offers Advice for Bringing "Political Energy" into the Classroom

Jonathan Zimmerman, professor of history and education, writes in a new commentary in USA Today that, despite students' unprecedented interest in the 2008 presidential election, their near universal support of Barack Obama is "a recipe for boredom."

"Last time I checked," he writes, "universities were supposed to challenge students' biases and preconceived opinions"

To counter the pro-Obama bias expressed by students and many faculty, Zimmerman suggests ways in which teachers can use the hotly contested campaign to infuse "political energy" into the classroom. Teachers, he writes, can bring in outsider speakers to discuss opposing viewpoints, or give assignments that challenge student's preconceived notions.

He looks to Barack Obama himself for inspiration. Obama, Zimmerman reminds us, "taught law for 12 years at the University of Chicago, where he developed a reputation for rigorous open-mindedness. He challenged everyone, especially the students who agreed with him."

To read the full USA Today article, click here.