Quick Hit:

A surge in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses has exposed deeper problems in higher education, including declining public confidence. Reforms focused on restoring civic education could offer a solution.

Key Details:

• Gallup polling shows a 21% drop in top-tier confidence in higher education since 2015.

• Protests marked by violence and antisemitism have led to increased public distrust.

• Scholars advocate for reforms focused on civic thought and leadership to restore higher learning.

Diving Deeper:

The spring of 2024 saw a rise in pro-Palestinian protests across American universities, revealing a growing crisis in higher education. According to Law & Liberty contributor James Hankins, these demonstrations not only disrupted campuses but also showcased a deeper issue: the failure of American universities to foster genuine learning and civil discourse. Hankins, a Harvard historian, argues that reform is essential, noting that "students have abandoned higher learning for activism" due to a prevailing "culture of ideological orthodoxy."

Hankins emphasizes that recent Gallup polling reflects this crisis. Since 2015, public confidence in higher education has dropped 21%, with many Independents and Republicans expressing only "some or little-to-no trust" in colleges. The protests, marked by anti-academic violence and antisemitism, have accelerated the decline in trust, forcing higher education leaders to reconsider their approach.

The demonstrations, while fueled by moral outrage over the Gaza conflict, also underscore the lack of civic education. Hankins notes that many students were driven by "indignation unguided by learning and sober judgment." The absence of critical thinking and discourse has transformed campuses into ideological battlegrounds rather than spaces for reasoned debate.

However, Hankins sees a potential path forward. He points to initiatives like the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida as promising models. Such programs aim to restore "genuine liberal education" and resist the pull of "endemic ideological advocacy." According to Hankins, reforms like these could help universities reclaim their mission by offering a balanced curriculum that prepares students for civic life, rather than activism.

These efforts are not without challenges. Hankins and other scholars warn that simply creating new programs could result in "academic ghettos" rather than integrating civic education across the university. Yet, as Hankins concludes, restoring civic thought and leadership "provides the foundation for developing reasonable views on current policy debates" and is essential for rebuilding public trust in American higher education.