Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mr. Roth begins at the argument that higher education is beneficial and desired, that the purpose of higher education is to not only educate a person for a career path, but also to teach students reasoning skills, help them grow as people and community members, and expose them to diversity of thought and experience. Any criticism of higher education, or suggestion that higher education is not in all cases a positive aspiration, he argues, stem from misunderstanding, envy of achievement and access, political bias and fearmongering. Roth then delves into the most vocal criticisms against higher education that are found today, explaining why all those criticisms are invalid.
I was very intrigued by the concept of this book. Earlier this year I read Heather MacDonald’s The Diversity Delusion, and felt that this volume would provide a nice inside-the-system counterpoint to her decidedly critical volume. Unfortunately, though Roth’s espoused philosophy was quite utopian and very appealing, after finishing the book I was simply more convinced about the truth found in MacDonald’s volume. Rather than dismantling the criticisms expressed against higher education, Roth found a way to explain and (in his point of view) validate the reasons behind the controversial aspects of higher education he examines. His belief seems to be that the reason people don’t agree with all the changes to higher education are that they don’t actually understand the reasoning or politics of the changes – or how it is to really be a college student in today’s world, facing today’s challenges – and that this book, and his explanations, should clear up any lingering confusion or hostility to what are clearly the best, most benevolent, most open-minded, nurturing of spirit and emotionally healthy policies that are being developed to help educational establishments adjust to a changing, complicated, modern world.
I do feel that the positive, uplifting experience Roth insists he and others in administrative positions are building ignores issues that have been documented to occur on campuses across the U.S., but Roth’s perspective of why changes to curricula have been made and his accounting of how higher education is adapting to new concepts of what ‘education’ should mean, are well-explained. Roth’s desire and determination to do right by students, faculty, and facilities is unquestionable. Unfortunately, his beliefs about what is ‘right’ aren’t necessarily ones that all would agree with – and at some point, it’s not a matter of not understanding!
Structurally, the book has a tendency to wander as Roth explores history, current events, political and judicial arguments and published theories and articles before he folds that knowledge into how he believes a topic affects campus life and policy. While the narrative seems a bit far-ranging occasionally, the breadth of exploration is actually intriguing and educational. Politically, Roth makes no bones about his dislike of President Trump and the policies inferred and espoused by his administration, and that does color the text and clearly inform his thinking. I, personally, would have preferred a less politically charged approach to the issues examined.
In the end, while I still maintain a skepticism of whether modern higher education is worth the price tag that it carries these days, I will recommend this book. Safe Enough Spaces, especially in the first section on Affirmative Action in education, is worth a read for those who are interested in the thinking behind policy in colleges and universities today.
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![Safe Enough Spaces: A Pragmatist's Approach to Inclusion, Free Speech, and Political Correctness on College Campuses by [Michael S. Roth]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/419VYIEqCJL._SY346_.jpg)
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