Rather than posting two separate stories about education in Murfreesboro, I decided to roll them into one!

Middle Tennessee State University

According to the Daily News Journal, MTSU is set to graduate over 1,600 students in two different ceremonies on Saturday, December 19:

More than 1,600 degree candidates are expected to graduate during MTSU’s 98th fall commencement during the university’s upcoming graduation ceremonies, reports Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost, Enrollment Services.

On Saturday, Dec. 19, MTSU will again feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center. Of the 1,633 set to graduate during the 98th fall commencement, 1,398 are undergraduates and 235 are graduate students, including 218 master’s candidates, 12 Education Specialist recipients and five Ph.D. candidates.

Kudos to the slew of good news about MTSU as of late.

Hobgood Elementary

Just a few blocks away from MTSU stands Hobgood Elementary, which is now considered a “NASA Explorer School.” Well, when I attended Hobgood in the mid-90s, it was just a normal underperforming elementary school. They’re in the news of late:

Four Tennessee Title I schools have been named 2010 Title I Distinguished Schools for exceptional student performance overall, or for significantly closing the achievement gap between student groups. Title I is a distinction given to schools that serve a large percentage of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

All schools provide students the opportunity to achieve at high levels, strong professional development, coordination with other programs and partnerships with parents and the community.

“These schools prove that the ability to achieve is not hindered by socioeconomic status,” Education Commissioner Timothy Webb said. “I want to congratulate each school for setting the bar high. This is a well-deserved honor.”

Hobgood Elementary, in Murfreesboro City Schools, was a national winner for closing the achievement gap. Barbara Sales is the principal.

More good news from my alma mater:

Beginning in spring 2010, MTSU will boast a new program of study with the official addition of the university’s newest undergraduate offering, the Bachelor of Science degree in forensic science.

The 120-hour program is the result of an academic collaboration by participating faculty in biology, chemistry and criminal justice administration, all of whom have teamed to build a strong interdisciplinary curriculum that was modeled in accordance with accreditation standards.

Dr. George Murphy, chairman of MTSU’s biology department, said his department has agreed to handle the paperwork for the program, such as assignment of advisers, but faculty from each of the three departments will be involved in all aspects of the program.

Kudos to my alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University, for developing a partnership with Hangzhou Normal University through the Confucius Institute. From the Daily News Journal account:

After a highly competitive selection process, MTSU has joined the ranks of a distinguished group of American institutions of higher learning approved to host a Confucius Institute on its campus…

According to its agreement with the Confucius Institute headquarters, MTSU will share management of the institute with HNU. The two universities will work together to formulate and amend policies and regulations for CIMTSU; oversee activities related to teaching, research, scholarship and fundraising; and supervise the general fiscal operations of the institute.

As part of its outlined services, the CIMTSU will:

• develop Chinese language and cultural classes;
• provide Chinese language teaching resources;
• train teachers to teach Chinese as a foreign language;
• offer a Chinese Proficiency Test and certification of Chinese language teachers;
• provide China-related library resources;
• promote research about contemporary China; and
• provide services and consultation to Middle Tennessee and the state on matters related to Chinese culture and language.

I believe that this partnership will make MTSU a more competitive institution. As state departments prepare to make further budgetary adjustments, perhaps the fight for resources will become easier for MTSU.

As economic development continues in Chinese special economic zones (because we’re fooling ourselves if we think all of China is economically free), it will become increasingly important for Americans to familiarize themselves with Chinese language and culture.

I remember meeting a delegation from China a couple years ago while tailgating in Walnut Grove. President McPhee brought a group of six or seven representatives to our set-up and introduced us to them.

MTSU: Home of the Blue Raiders, fundamentalist evangelical types, and crazy aggressive leftists. At least that’s who called MTSU home this week.

It’s been reported everywhere. There’s even a Facebook group in her defense. Several fundamental evangelical types assembled at MTSU yesterday to spread whatever gospel it was they were preaching. It was, by all account offensive to many, including self-avowed Christians. It’s the sort of in-your-face approach to the Word that we see from folks like the Westboro Baptists, only these gentlemen travel from campus to campus, riling up students who dare walk by them.

Is it the most effective vehicle for the Gospel? No. Is it even an accurate interpretation of the Word? Hardly. Do they have a right to say it? Yes. Under the protections afforded by the First Amendment, preachers like these (and others) have the right to spread their message without encouraging violence.

While the full story is developing, what we do know is that one student wasn’t too keen on the message these men were delivering. According to MTSU Police and a cell phone video, Michaela Morales assaulted one of the preachers. As a crowd formed (in what likely appeared to be every leftist crowd that ever appeared at an MTSU event), John McGlone fell from where he was standing.

Morales was arrested for assault.

A friend of mine informs me that political persuasion should not enter into this debate, but I see it quite differently. In my four years at MTSU, I saw leftists repeatedly shout down conservative speakers – or even those non-political speakers with whom they did not agree. Crowds of leftists made signs, became disruptive, and presented themselves generally as a narrow minded bunch of bigots – hating presenters for their opinions. They almost always attempted to somehow end whatever presentation was taking place.

The left touts Academia as the “marketplace of ideas,” and they promote all sorts of diversity, except diversity of thought.

Would I have agreed with the preachers? No. Would I have assaulted them? No.

It was Voltaire who once said, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” That’s where I stand on the issue. It’s a shame that the left oftentimes doesn’t agree.