LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Tuesday, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas expressed her stance that college educators should face termination if they engage in what she referred to as “indoctrinating” their students. This sentiment mirrors the criticisms often voiced by her former employer, Donald Trump, and other Republicans directed toward higher education institutions.
During her address to the legislature for this session, Sanders articulated her belief that Arkansas students attend colleges and universities primarily for education, not to be subjected to what she termed “anti-American” and “historically illiterate woke nonsense.” “We will establish that any professor, regardless of their tenure, who detracts from student education with indoctrination will be removed from their position,” Sanders asserted to the predominantly Republican lawmakers present.
The implementation details of such a policy remain vague. Sanders’ office did not elaborate on the specific subjects or themes that would be considered inappropriate under her proposed guidelines. Her remarks were made as part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing the state’s higher education framework, which includes revising its funding model.
The idea of dismissing professors over alleged indoctrination has faced backlash from organizations advocating for civil liberties and academic freedom. Todd Wolfson, the president of the American Association of University Professors, described Sanders’ comments as part of a “grossly hypocritical false narrative.” He emphasized that her stance potentially undermines the educational environment by suggesting that faculty with differing viewpoints could be denied due process. “Attacking a system that fosters innovation and serves as a cornerstone of democracy is detrimental to Arkansas students,” Wolfson remarked.
Concerns were also raised by Democratic Representative Andrew Collins, who warned about the implications of Sanders’ proposal on higher education. “I am uncertain how this approach could avoid excessive politicization and content control within our educational institutions,” Collins noted.
Sanders’ statements align with a growing trend among Republicans at the national level, including Trump, who have pledged to combat what they term as “wokeness” and alleged “leftist indoctrination” within educational settings. Trump has made promises to dismantle programs focused on diversity, claiming they promote discrimination, and has suggested imposing financial penalties on colleges potentially amounting to their entire endowments.
Other Republican-led states such as Alabama, Idaho, and Texas have initiated similar measures targeting higher education, particularly focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Institutions have begun to eliminate certain majors and courses deemed unprofitable. In 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis undertook a significant transformation of the board of trustees at The New College of Florida, a small liberal arts college noted for its progressive nuances, by appointing a majority of conservative supporters.
This is not the first instance of Governor Sanders advocating for a reduction in “indoctrination” within education. Recently, she endorsed a sweeping reform of the Arkansas education system, which included stipulations regarding the teaching of race and gender issues in public schools. While a federal judge ruled against the state’s ability to use that legislation to restrict discussions of critical race theory in the classroom last year, an appeal regarding that decision is currently under consideration by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
