This article was originally published as "BCCC Prof Publishes
Controversial Book" in Focus on Newtown and on PhillyBurbs.com. It is
also available at The Free Republic.Sociologist Blasts Leftist Bias in FieldBy Sean KerriganFriday, August 20, 2004 Myles Kelleher, a professor who teaches sociology at Bucks County Community College, has published a controversial new book on the free market solution to social problems. Kelleher's new book, "Social Problems in a Free Society: Myths, Absurdities, and Realities," offers an alternative to what he sees as a one-sided debate on social problems and how to deal with them. In his book, Kelleher says the field of sociology today is run by decidedly left-wing socialists, both in academic publications and on teaching staffs. Kelleher, who has been teaching sociology at BCCC for 35 years, said there is not a single libertarian or conservative book available for students to get another point of view. "It borders on political indoctrination, that's a hit the students take," Kelleher said. Kelleher hopes to use his new book with his students next semester along with a more leftist book to balance his opinions. Kelleher said much of the one-sidedness in the debate could be seen in organizations like the American Sociological Association (ASA). "There are only three places in the world where Marxism is still taken seriously - North Korea, Cuba, and the American Sociological Association," Kelleher said. Kelleher said the political views of sociologists within that organization vary from liberal left to radical left. Some have advocated reeducation programs and media saturated propaganda designed to reshape the minds of racist, sexist, homophobic, and capitalist Americans. Past ASA president Joe Feagin argued "re-education will need to be a routine part of the mass media and to operate within American families, especially white families." Kelleher also pointed to Steven J. Rosenthal, ASA chair of Racial and Ethnic Minorities, who said one of the major difficulties in reaching a just society is "the decay and collapse of socialism in Russia, China, and other societies, and the consequent demoralization of progressive forces throughout the world." Kelleher said he would like to see government get out of people's way. "The government should be limited to doing the job that only government can do." Kelleher took aim at his colleagues three years ago when he published an article in "The American Sociologist" titled "The Professional Ideology of Social Pathologists Transformed." Kelleher said the idea for a book grew out of that article. Kelleher himself admits that he was once a socialist. "My heart is with socialism," Kelleher said. "I have a lot of respect for the humanitarianism." The first sentence in Kelleher's book recalls a famous quote by French politician and premier Aristide Briand who said, "Anyone who is age 20 and is not a socialist has no heart. Anyone who is 30 and is still a socialist has no brain." "That held remarkably true with me," Kelleher said. One of Kelleher's colleagues, Professor Charles Beem teaches business studies and social science classes at BCCC. "I understand what the theory says, but looking at the economic conditions of the world we don't have a free market to the degree that it could and should work" Beem has taught economics for 18 years and said he has the highest regard for Kelleher. "He's a fine professor. He's very dedicated." "There is no sign that sociology is going to turn around anytime soon," Kelleher said. "But, for young students, if you want to cause some waves, be independent, being a conservative or libertarian in sociology is the way to go." Despite the book's controversial subject, Kelleher said he has gotten mostly positive reactions, but admits that holding his view wasn't always easy. "I've had my battles on campus about academic freedom," Kelleher said. "Bucks [College] has a strong commitment to academic freedom, as much as any other school in the nation." "I do suspect [the book] will cause a degree of controversy, but I'm hoping that even if people do not agree with my arguments, they will look at social problems in a different light." Further Reading: Download in PDF "The professional ideology of social pathologists transformed: The new political orthodoxy in sociology" By Myles J. Kelleher |