The Duties of Vocational School Professors

James Wimberly writes:

Firing John Yoo: a comment: [T]he relevant fact [is] that... Professor Yoo is employed to teach a vocational subject, law. This isn't a prestige issue. Particle physics, cultural studies and remedial English fall on one side of the vocational/non-vocational distinction; law, medicine, nursing, flying training and plumbing school on the other.

All teaching carries with it a minimum set of professional standards on plagiarism, harassment, favouritism and so on. Nobody has suggested John Yoo has violated these. But vocational education should also inculcate the specific ethical standards of the trade in question. It seems at least arguable that Yoo's probable professional misconduct as legal enabler of war crimes taints his ability to train future advocates and judges. Should a flying school for airline pilots keep an instructor guilty of reckless flying in his own weekend plane? But the same conduct would be irrelevant to the employment of a professor of surgery.

I know I'm advocating a double standard here, but with reasons...

Comments

[marcus medler]

I am in agreement and it is consistent. Academic freedom is not license. Ethics is concerned with behavior not belief. What the censure is can be administered. To excuse such malfeasance(on part of Mr.Yoo while acting as a professional lawyer) would be upholding arguments against a tradition of independent certification of vocational competence. This brings up a great and long legal tradition of societies need to protect citizens, from malfeasance. Selling poisoned meat as a licensed meat seller is not an academic freedom issue.

[marcus medler]

I am in agreement and it is consistent. Academic freedom is not license. Ethics is concerned with behavior not belief. What the censure is can be administered. To excuse such malfeasance(on part of Mr.Yoo while acting as a professional lawyer) would be upholding arguments against a tradition of independent certification of vocational competence. This brings up a great and long legal tradition of societies need to protect citizens, from malfeasance. Selling poisoned meat as a licensed meat seller is not an academic freedom issue.