By JOHNNIE KELLER
Salina Resident
Recently, I walked around one of the state's Technical College’s and I have noticed an increase in hostility towards people who hold conservative values on our campuses. Educators, even outside the classrooms, are not allowed to express their political opinions if the opinion is different from the leadership of that institution. In 2023, while teaching as an adjunct at a Kansas Community College, I saw where the student-led school paper always slanted to the left on the opinion page. I tried to get an answer as to why and was told that it's an opinion page and facts don’t matter.
One of the student writers openly attacked Jews and Christians in the paper, and I expressed my concerns to no avail. Eventually, a courageous student wrote an opposition opinion and expressed his faith and beliefs, which were based on Christianity. He was attacked and shamed for his opinion. I wrote him a letter and told him not to waver his beliefs and opinions. I told him not to cave in, just to fit in and that this was the whole problem in education, especially higher education. With tax dollars (both state and federal) providing much of the funding to schools, it is a direct violation of the First Amendment of our State and Federal Constitutions to restrict or attack freedom of speech and religion.
After all of this, I expressed my disgust and complained to my superior about this. I was surprised by his response, and I will paraphrase what he said:
“You have three choices: One – fight it and get nowhere two - just move on to get along; three - you can leave.”
I chose to leave.
I was then asked to be an adjunct at a Kansas Technical College and accepted a part-time job (for something to do in retirement). This past fall, especially this last election cycle I noticed that the institution had “Go Vote” cards and flyers all over the school. At first, this looked like a great way to motivate students to vote. I took the information home, researched the information provided, and found that this was a left-leaning organization. There was not one bit of information that presented an opposing point of view, which would have provided information that allowed the voter to decide.
One day, while I was on campus and not teaching, I spoke with some of my students on break, and in our discussion, I stated my opinion on a presidential candidate. I then moved on to our conversation, which was not about politics. Within 10 minutes, my supervisor showed up and told me that I couldn’t talk about it, and I pointed out that there weren’t any opposing points of view or facts anywhere on the campus. I was then told again that I couldn’t talk about it. I informed my (former) supervisor that it violated my First Amendment rights, and I will not be quiet about this. I then went to the lab and informed one of the other teachers that my resignation would be forthcoming, and I quit working there.
I had the right to speak and the knowledge to speak with facts, and I was in a position where leaving wasn’t a big deal. Unfortunately, students don’t have that option, yet institutions take federal and state taxpayer money for their schools. Yet, these same schools promote agendas even if they are under most people's radar. Open hostility is rising in our country against people of opposing positions or opinions, which needs to be addressed. It is time for our federal and state legislators to look into our schools and take back our tax dollars if schools are pushing political agendas. If all sides are not recognized and equally represented, we, parents and taxpayers, need to withhold money from those schools.