Metro State Professor in Colorado Investigated For Palin Assignment UPDATE

A professor in Colorado is under investigation after giving an assignment to his students. The assigment? Write a critical piece on Sarah Palin to counter the "fairy tale" image of her. A similiar incident happened here in Denver when a High School teacher gave lectures on Evil President Bush. In my view, it is not our teachers job to teach politics in school. College may be a bit different but at any rate, here is the story from CBS4 in Denver.

Update- September 18, 2008 2:24PM MST-My son who goes to Denver University had Andrew Hallam last spring for a writing class that had the theme "Violence in the Media." He is 90% sure it is the same instructor. He said that he could see how Mr. Hallam's style could be misunderstood. He is the type of instructor who picks a topic for his students and asks them to write from that viewpoint. It helps critical thinking. My son did not see any evidence of bullying in the class, although he was a little outspoken at times. So, we let CBS4 know. We will probably contact Metro State and let them know that too.

DENVER , Colorado(CBS4) ― Metro State College is investigating a professor who asked students to write an essay critical of Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin. One student said the instructor singled out Republican students in the class and allowed others to ridicule them.

"I was shocked, I was holy cow, this is just an open door for him to discuss politics with us," said Jana Barber, a student in the class.

Barber shared the first class assignment with CBS4. Instructor Andrew Hallam asked students to write an essay to contradict what he called the 'fairy tale image of Palin' presented at the Republican National Convention.

"What the faculty's responsibility is to provide opportunity for critical thinking and civic engagement so bringing something of relevancy into the classroom was the faculty's goal," said Cathy Lucas, spokeswoman for Metro State. "Should he have broadened it and included all the political figures, yes."

Metro State in Denver, CO officials are investigating claims of bias, harassment and bullying.

Hallam declined an interview with CBS4. He has revised the assignment.

Students may now write about any of the candidates.