Intellectual Diversity

Too often, intellectual diversity is pushed to one side when the issues of diversity and inclusion are discussed. That, I believe, is unfortunate. Diversity, to my way of thinking, includes all of the ways in which we are different. Intellectual diversity is one of those ways.
Recently, many critics have pointed to the lack of inclusiveness on college campuses. Specifically, they argue that conservative political thought is discouraged and devalued. This impacts classroom discussions, research funding, organizational priorities, and so forth.
As a college professor, establishing a learning climate that promotes diverse realms of thought is a priority. In so doing, I encourage critical thinking, perspective-shifting, cultural intelligence and ultimately, student achievement. Intellectual diversity, however, encompasses far more than political thought. Temple Grandin talks about how her ideas often are misunderstood, ignored or devalued because she talks “in pictures.” Many women can identify with the book, Women’s Ways of Knowing, because it speaks to those times when they are viewed as incapable of knowing or thinking, due to their gender, social class, age, or for some other reason. And many of us have been in situations where we felt pressured to go along with the group’s point of view and keep our different and perhaps controversial opinions to ourselves.
Pedagogy has everything to do with stimulating intellectual diversity. As a wonderful professor once shared, an excellent question is much more inclusive than an excellent answer. Answers invariably set boundaries and limit debate and learning.