From the Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.d. Right now, the academic system as we know it is under attack, not just at my university but at colleges all around the country. Colleges are moving away from traditional liberal arts models to career readiness. While I do not believe finding a job is the sole … Continue reading In Defense of Liberal Art
Tag: teaching
The Unintended Consequences of Attacking Higher Education
From the Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.d. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 One of the lessons I try to teach my students through history is the idea of unintended consequences. A good example comes from the presidency of Andrew Jackson, who had a deep hatred of banks, especially the Second Bank of the United … Continue reading The Unintended Consequences of Attacking Higher Education
Eliminating tenure would impose dire consequences on Oklahoma’s struggling higher education system
From the Lawton Constitution By James Finck, Ph.D. Feb 15, 2026 I began writing this column for Southwest Ledger in 2023 and for The Lawton Constitution just last year. I have genuinely loved this time. Writing has always been an outlet for me, almost a form of therapy. I’ve been blogging since around 2016, when … Continue reading Eliminating tenure would impose dire consequences on Oklahoma’s struggling higher education system
We don’t need more school days, just better days
From the Lawton Constitution By James Finck, Ph.D. Jan 27, 2026 I’m sure you’ve heard the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. That’s exactly what came to mind when I heard that Oklahoma is considering extending the school year by up to two weeks. I … Continue reading We don’t need more school days, just better days
The Bible, the Classroom, and the Boundaries of Scholarly Evidence
From the Southwest Ledger As the story of a University of Oklahoma student receiving a zero on an assignment for citing the Bible has become a major national headline, I wanted to weigh in as both a Christian and a professor. Let me say upfront that I have not read the student’s response, seen the … Continue reading The Bible, the Classroom, and the Boundaries of Scholarly Evidence
