Disagreeing Well: An Answer to Critiques of Higher Education

In an essay in the Chronicle of Higher Education, former undersecretary of education James Kvaal called for colleges to defend their public value while also building environments that encourage respectful disagreement. 

Three months into President Trump’s second term, Kvaal assesses the competing visions in the administration that have informed an avalanche of new policies. Various officials are promoting cuts to student aid, drastic reductions in the Department of Education, and a reduced role for colleges ad universities in society. 

Kvaal argues for higher education institutions to stand together and articulate their value. At the same time, he calls for more engagement across political difference and a deeper commitment to community engagement. As he writes,

College leaders are well-equipped to build environments that encourage respectful disagreement. That means teaching students to disagree well and ensuring that some voices are not shouted down or intimidated into silence. Efforts like the Middlebury College’s Conflict Transformation Collective and the Duke University’s Civil Discourse Project are needed now more than ever.

The full article is available at the Chronicle’s website; users may need to register for a free account.