Anyone take one of the FREE Certificate Programs direct from Hillsdale College?

[cookderosa]

vetvso
 except Hillsdale's professors are intentionally mediocre.

How do you know that?

Based on their hiring requirements. They are very restrictive on what philosophy you must subscribe to. That not only weeds out great candidates with varying views, but it runs off great candidates who agree with them because they don't want to be in an environment that lacks academic freedom. If you're a very capable teacher, you're likely going to take a job at one of the better liberal arts colleges.

You don't see the irony of your position?

[sanantone]

vetvso
 except Hillsdale's professors are intentionally mediocre.

How do you know that?

Based on their hiring requirements. They are very restrictive on what philosophy you must subscribe to. That not only weeds out great candidates with varying views, but it runs off great candidates who agree with them because they don't want to be in an environment that lacks academic freedom. If you're a very capable teacher, you're likely going to take a job at one of the better liberal arts colleges.

You don't see the irony of your position?

Nope. Several people on the City-Data forum have asked for conservative schools that aren't overly religious. While Hillsdale calls itself a Christian school, it's non-sectarian, so it's often recommended. That usually results in the OP complaining that Hillsdale isn't known for anything, and their professors aren't at the top of their fields. What do they expect? A school like Hillsdale doesn't attract top talent. They can either choose to go to the best schools in their field or the best safe space for their political ideology. They usually can't have both.

Most of our top conservative politicians and judges graduated from Ivy League and Public Ivy colleges, not colleges like Hillsdale. Why do you think Justice Kavanaugh graduated from Yale and chose to teach at Yale, Georgetown, and Harvard? According to some of you, those schools wouldn't hire someone like Kavanaugh, but they did. Liberal justice, Elena Kagan, hired him. On the other hand, Hillsdale wouldn't hire Kagan even though her credentials are stellar.

[cookderosa]

vetvso
 except Hillsdale's professors are intentionally mediocre.

How do you know that?

Based on their hiring requirements. They are very restrictive on what philosophy you must subscribe to. That not only weeds out great candidates with varying views, but it runs off great candidates who agree with them because they don't want to be in an environment that lacks academic freedom. If you're a very capable teacher, you're likely going to take a job at one of the better liberal arts colleges.

You don't see the irony of your position?

Nope.

Ok.

[PrettyFlyforaChiGuy]

Just an update, but these courses are still available for free (and still not for credit). Could be good if you just want some learning, but MOOCs like these are available elsewhere too.

[Life Long Learning]

Just an update, but these courses are still available for free (and still not for credit). Could be good if you just want some learning, but MOOCs like these are available elsewhere too.

Thanks for the update.  I still want to take this course.

[SCYankee]

I can weigh in here; I took all of the courses they offer.

The courses are great, and eye-opening, especially if you've never taken the time to study what the US Constitution says for itself, and why the founders included those ideas in those words. Plus, they're all free. Who else does that, to that extent?

There's some snarkiness about Hillsdale in this thread, but I completely attribute that to opposing political views--not the courses themselves. I think very highly of Hillsdale--their history and mission--and consider them a beacon in our current mainstream political waywardness. It's another discussion whether a country should stand firm on its founding principles or continually mutate into whatever some citizens and politicians currently find convenient or personally beneficial. But the courses themselves are solid, if you love unedited history and constitution-based commentary.

I also attended one of their lectures in Columbia, SC with my two oldest kids. Free lunch and excellent presentation! It was a great learning experience for my kids and added to the simple principles that I already discuss with them.

Two thumbs up from me, and I don't care what anybody else says!