Accuracy in Academia
Encyclopedia
Accuracy in Academia is an American organization that seeks to counter perceived liberal bias in education
.
, watchdog group and think tank
that “wants schools [i.e., colleges and universities in the United States] to return to their traditional mission-the quest for truth.” The AIA promotes academic freedom
and is particularly critical of what they describe as a liberal
/left-wing bias in American academia
. The AIA characterizes such bias as liberal or communist “indoctrination,” and aims to stand up for the rights of politically conservative students and faculty.
Reed Irvine
as an outgrowth of Accuracy in Media
.
The AIA is run by executive director Daniel J. Flynn
, the author of the book Why the Left Hates America.
The AIA is opposed to multicultural education
. Additionally, the AIA objects to some applications of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
; though Title IX was enacted to eliminate discrimination against women in higher education, the AIA argues that “the law is doing so at the expense of men,” such as a feminist professor at Boston College
who refused to admit men to her courses. The group also is opposed to abortion
. The group was criticized by prominent conservative and first Secretary of Education William Bennett
, who described AIA as “a bad idea” at the time of its founding in 1986.
has claimed that the AIA is a threat to academic freedom due to the group’s efforts to recruit students to report professors alleged to “disseminate misinformation
.” In contrast, others in academia have described the AIA as a “useful irritant.”
Bias in education
-Bias in school textbooks:The content of school textbooks is often the issue of debate, as their target audience is young people, and the term "whitewashing" is the one commonly used to refer to selective removal of critical or damaging evidence or comment...
.
Mission
AIA is described as non-profit organizationNon-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, watchdog group and think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
that “wants schools [i.e., colleges and universities in the United States] to return to their traditional mission-the quest for truth.” The AIA promotes academic freedom
Academic freedom
Academic freedom is the belief that the freedom of inquiry by students and faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment.Academic freedom is a...
and is particularly critical of what they describe as a liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
/left-wing bias in American academia
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
. The AIA characterizes such bias as liberal or communist “indoctrination,” and aims to stand up for the rights of politically conservative students and faculty.
History
The AIA was founded in 1985 by columnist and former Federal Reserve economistReed Irvine
Reed Irvine
Reed Irvine was an economist who founded the media watchdog organization Accuracy in Media, and remained its head for 35 years....
as an outgrowth of Accuracy in Media
Accuracy in Media
Accuracy In Media is an American, non-profit news media watchdog founded in 1969 by economist Reed Irvine. AIM describes itself as "a non-profit, grassroots citizens watchdog of the news media that critiques botched and bungled news stories and sets the record straight on important issues that...
.
The AIA is run by executive director Daniel J. Flynn
Daniel J. Flynn
Daniel J. Flynn is an American conservative and author of the book A Conservative History of the American Left , in addition to the books Why the Left Hates America: Exposing the Lies That Have Obscured Our Nation's Greatness and Intellectual Morons: How Ideology Makes Smart People Fall for Stupid...
, the author of the book Why the Left Hates America.
The AIA is opposed to multicultural education
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
. Additionally, the AIA objects to some applications of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a United States law, enacted on June 23, 1972, that amended Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2002 it was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in honor of its principal author Congresswoman Mink, but is most...
; though Title IX was enacted to eliminate discrimination against women in higher education, the AIA argues that “the law is doing so at the expense of men,” such as a feminist professor at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
who refused to admit men to her courses. The group also is opposed to abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
. The group was criticized by prominent conservative and first Secretary of Education William Bennett
William Bennett
William John "Bill" Bennett is an American conservative pundit, politician, and political theorist. He served as United States Secretary of Education from 1985 to 1988. He also held the post of Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under George H. W...
, who described AIA as “a bad idea” at the time of its founding in 1986.
Reception
The American Association of University ProfessorsAmerican Association of University Professors
The American Association of University Professors is an organization of professors and other academics in the United States. AAUP membership is about 47,000, with over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations...
has claimed that the AIA is a threat to academic freedom due to the group’s efforts to recruit students to report professors alleged to “disseminate misinformation
Misinformation
Misinformation is false or inaccurate information that is spread unintentionally. It is distinguished from disinformation by motive in that misinformation is simply erroneous, while disinformation, in contrast, is intended to mislead....
.” In contrast, others in academia have described the AIA as a “useful irritant.”