It’s extremely appropriate for Campus Reform because the site is designed for libertarian and conservative students who experience “so-called ‘political correctness’ and monolithic thinking by the faculty.” In other words, it’s a forum for students to draw attention to indoctrination-oriented classrooms/campuses and get assistance if needed.

Right now, for instance, Campus Reform is working on a situation at Indiana University where the administration refused to bring libertarian economist Thomas Woods to campus…after paying $40K for John Edwards: http://iub.campusreform.org/group/86/blog/indiana-university-40000-for-edwards-nothing-for-free-market-thinkers

Anyway, if your freedom-loving kid goes to a less-than-freedom-loving college, it’s a good resource to have on your radar.

I can attest to the validity of that statement but at the high school level. I have 2 daughters in high school; a junior and a senior. In general, the teaching at their school is leftist/statist, especially in history and government. My girls hear my (extreme!) libertarian views at home. I was initially very upset that this garbage was being taught in school, but my worries were unfounded. The dichotomy of thinking has prompted my daughters to develop an interest in philosophy, politics and economics and to question everything. It has inspired them to seek information on their own and to stand up for their libertarian beliefs, regardless of how popular. They have learned logical and critical thinking skills–skills that certainly haven’t been taught or even encouraged in their high school.

I appreciate this article and am looking forward to the next one.

While attending a Hillsdale or Grove City has the lamentable effect of leaving one more surrounded by like-thinking people, it also has the laudable effect of enabling one to act on the belief that the state shouldn’t be in the business of schools.

This is a constant conflict for people of principles. Do I choose that which gives me the most, or perhaps which think can do the most good; or do I choose to sacrifice that advantage in favor of acting on the principles I profess?

1. Any student can get enough of an education in libertarian philosophy, political science and economics (et cetera) through private readings. For example, I own almost sixty books on the topic, all of which were collected in the past year. Of course, not all students have jobs like me, but there are plenty of websites online that offer free books through PDF downloads. Given this wealth of resources in libertarian thought, attending a “mainstream” school provides a sobering opposing viewpoint. This type of balance is always good. Furthermore, like Prof. Horowitz says, it makes you a better critique of your intellectual rivals if you are faced against the most erudite of them. I believe I read somewhere that Prof. Jesús Huerta de Soto makes his students read The General Theory, and then tells them to correct Keynes’ mistakes.

2. Although I do not expect many libertarians to agree with me, I believe that in order to be influential in your life you have to play the game and earn a position of influence. Once you are in a position of influence, then you can help to change the world. What does this mean? For those who are looking to go on and get a doctorates in economics, or in any subject which incorporates libertarian thought (which is almost any subject, if not all), you will have to play the game. You can, of course, opt for graduate schools which may have a leaning towards your own opinions, but the most well respected schools are those which are “mainstream”—for the very reason that they are mainstream! I consider myself an Austrian economist, but my main objective is to go to go to a school that is as far away from Austrian-oriented as possible (ideally, the University of Chicago, but we’ll see about that).

3. If liberty-minded individuals cluster in schools already built around their opinions, what it does is isolate libertarians from other students. This may be what you are looking for, but I do not think you are looking for the right thing. A libertarian student should be active on campus, which means that the student should join libertarian groups. If one doesn’t exist, start one! I am pushing to start a libertarian organization in San Diego State University, and I am hoping to get it off the ground by the end of the Spring (2010) semester. By spreading to non-libertarian campuses and forming active groups, you help spread libertarian ideals to those who otherwise would have never encountered them.

One of my own fears is embracing Austrian, or general libertarian, thought to such a degree where I turn blind to anything contradictory. At this point, I would consider myself as bad off as any close-minded Keynesian, or what have you. Keeping an open mind is integral to being a good scholar. I don’t think libertarian should fear being persuaded (and, if you are, who is to say that you are wrong in doing so?), because libertarianism for me is the only rational choice. My years of mainstream education have only served to strengthen by libertarian foundations.

The strongest libertarians are those who consistently fight against the tide, not those who keep with like minded individuals. Before ending my comment, I want to add that I do not intend to insult anybody, and if any of this is insulting then please accept my sincerest apologies.