Someone has set up a watch list for liberal professors and it’s kind of terrifying

We all had that teacher. You know the one we’re talking about. The one that changed our lives. The professor that gave us new insight into a particular subject, formula, time period. When we are children, our teachers are the adults we spend the most time with after our own parents. No wonder so much concern is spent on the state of education.

But now we’re worried for many of these teachers, thanks to the news that someone has created a liberal professor watch list.

That’s right, there’s now an “education watch list.”

According to Slate, “an organization called Turning Point USA launched a website called the Professor Watchlist, which provides the full names, locations, offenses — and sometimes photographs — of liberal academics it has singled out for ignominy.”

This. Is. Terrifying.

We are not amused. Nor are we taking this lightly.

As Slate noted, this might not normally be taken so seriously. But remember, many of the men coming in to power are making some pretty scary claims. Some, for example, compare Japanese internment camps to what they want to do with Muslims. We must give this new list attention. The future freedom of education might depend on it.

According to the website, the watch list’s mission is:

“To expose and document college professors who discriminate against conservative students, promote anti-American values, and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom.

Yikes. The website also has a place where visitors can “submit a tip” about left-leaning teachers.

Some professors, such as academic Heather Cox Richardson, have responded thoughtfully to their nomination:

"...It is even more ironic that the list would label me 'anti-American.' In fact, I do what I do – all the teaching, writing, speeches, and media – because I love America. I am staunchly committed to the principle of human self-determination, and have come to believe that American democracy is the form of government that comes closest to bringing that principle to reality."

We highly recommend you read the rest of her thoughtful response.

Now, the creator of the website claims he did not create the site to “intimidate” teachers, though that does seem to be at least a byproduct.

Yet, many people who are upset about the list does not want the site taken down. After all, that would be censorship. And if there are biases happening in education, it could certainly be worthwhile (assuming, of course, you could even label a “bias” differently from, say, “an opinion you don’t like” because there is a major difference).

We hope others listen to all the issues that have come up as a result of this troubling site and realize that even when trying to do good, bad things can—and do—happen.