A University of South Carolina textbook depicts former President Ronald Reagan as sexist and insensitive to the plight of minorities, states the Washington Times. The textbook, titled "Introduction to Social Work & Social Welfare: Critical Thinking Perspectives," reportedly goes further to portray Reagan in a negative light by claiming that he felt that women belonged in domestic roles and did very little to appoint women to roles of power. Some students at the school are so disturbed with the textbook that they're speaking out.
One such student is Anna Chapman, a sophomore and political science major. "I was absolutely shocked and was tempted to throw the book away," Chapman told Fox News. "I would even write comments in the actual textbook next to some of the offensive things that I read. I didn't know that this is what I had signed up for," she added.
According to The Daily Caller, the book's text also claims that Reagan's policies led to an increase in homelessness and poverty. In addition, it reads that conservatives take a "pessimistic view of human nature," and believe that people, in general, are "corrupt, self-centered, lazy, and incapable of true charity."
As Fox News recently pointed out, claims in the book don't necessarily jive with history, since Reagan is known for naming Sandra Day O'Connor as the first female Justice to sit on the Supreme Court and Jeane Kirkpatrick as the first female ambassador to the United Nations. But his female appointments didn't stop there. In fact, they went on to include 1,400 other women in key positions within his administration during his two terms as President. Other famous females appointed by Reagan include Secretary of Labor Ann Dore McLaughlin, Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Margaret Heckler.
Many conservative students such as Chapman have been up in arms over the book's inaccurate teachings.
"The way it describes conservatives as viewing people as 'lazy, corrupt, and incapable of true charity' is extremely offensive and beyond not true, granted the fact that conservatives believe that people are capable of succeeding without government interference," Chapman told Fox News. "I come from a middle class, conservative family, with extremely giving parents, so it really hit home for me."
According to a university spokesman, the textbook was chosen by a faculty member, not a school administrator. Administrators typically do not interfere in decisions regarding course materials.
"The University of South Carolina is committed to academic freedom and a vigorous public discourse," spokesman Wes Hickman told Fox News. "Our faculty are free to select texts for their courses and our students are encouraged to raise questions, challenge convention and develop their own ideas," said Hickman, adding that the school was pleased with the lively discussion that resulted from the text.
Compiled by Holly Johnson
Sources:
"College textbook paints Reagan as sexist, conservatives as pessimists," foxnews.com, February 17, 2014, http://www.Fox News/us/2014/02/17/college-textbook-paints-reagan-as-sexist-conservatives-as-pessimists/
"Ronald Reagan slammed as sexist in college textbook," washingtontimes.com, February 18, 2014, Cheryl K. Chumley, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/18/ronald-reagan-slammed-as-sexist-in-college-textboo/
"Textbook: Reagan was sexist, conservatives think people are evil and lazy," dailycaller.com, February 17, 2014, Robby Soave, http://dailycaller.com/2014/02/17/textbook-reagan-was-sexist-conservatives-think-people-are-evil-and-lazy/
