William Felkner, a former student at the Rhode Island College [RIC] School of Social Work, has filed suit against the school claiming that he was the subject of discrimination based on his conservative views. Felkner claims that professors and administrators used the pretext that Felkner’s views did not comport with the code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers [NASC] which emphasizes the role of social workers in pursuing “social justice” for the “vulnerable and oppressed” members of society. As reported in The Providence Journal:
Felkner’s lawsuit says the RIC School of Social Work discriminated against him by penalizing his grades, filing ethics charges against him, delaying his graduation, and denying him the opportunity to work on welfare reform in the governor’s office — all in retaliation for his conservative views….
Felkner describes himself as a “conservative libertarian” who generally opposes the expansion of government welfare programs and believes “the market economy serves as the best aid to persons of every socioeconomic class, including the poor.”
NASW officials counter that their code of ethics does not prescribe expansion of government programs, although the two may go hand in hand, depending on the situation.
Unable to find the social work internships necessary for his degree, Felkner started the Ocean State Policy Research Institute, which describes itself as being “focused on crafting sound public policy based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and traditional American values.” In Rhode Island? Good luck.
DONATE
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.
Comments
Mr. Felkner Is absolutely correct in what he is doing and saying. I applaud him.
Let me clarify, I’m also a social worker. (A conservative social worker and very proud of that). (No, I’m not going to go into another field because a very few people have their facts wrong. I suggest if you think social work is your own private club of liberals YOU are in the wrong field and maybe YOU should look at going to work for the Sierra Club or socialist workers party or something). I will stay in social work and challenge it! Every step of the way.
I too was ridiculed for my beliefs and thoughts all through school by professors and other students who felt comfortable in their own little small world. I sat in class after class attempting to broaden my understanding of other’s points of views.
I did NOT spend $80,000 to have someone preach to me about their limited “liberal” political views in graduate school, because frankly I don’t care what you believe.
I say limited, because if challenged they immediately go into an attack mode.
They are welcoming of others opinions and liberal in their views of the world and politics, as long as you agree with them, period.
If you don’t, you will be destroyed.
Wow now there is social work and there is liberalism. Very open-minded huh?
I did spend that money to find better more creative ways to help more people at a higher level of understanding. Than what their end objection (may be) of obtaining benefits from a local or federal government program or have others resolve their problems for them.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” That is how I approach social work and it is how I approach “the helping process.”
The plain fact of the matter is this. At least half of this country upwards of 60% is conservative in their beliefs. This has been proven over and over. That being said if the sole focus of social work is on people who believe government is the answer to all human ills. Then at least 50-60% of the country goes un-served, under-served/neglected by social work because of their own limited beliefs.
This is and always has been unacceptable in every way.
I challenge you to take a good honest look at NASW’s web page and tell me they advocate for everyone. THEY DON’T. Tell me they are NOT a political action group. THEY ARE.
I will not pay my dues to them until they practice what they preach and represent the whole country NOT 40-50% of the people who are the loudest.
For those of you who lack history in social work, it was born out of the churches in this country.
The very same churches who are now vilified by the leftist agenda i.e. Washington State and Christmas for instance.
Social work has lots of potential to be of real help and assistance to very large portions of this country and they are very capable of doing so. But they need to drop the political agendas and focus on helping people in more diverse ways.
Not by just handing them a check or a voucher but by actually resolving long-term problems. This obviously can’t be done for every person that needs help. But there needs to be attempts at this prior to writing people off and assigning them to a life of servitude in waiting for bureaucrats to provide their next meal, check, voucher or bed to arrive.
Social work and this Country can do much better than this.
Don’t limit yourself or our Country.
Conservatives are at least 50% of this Country and their views/ideals are at least as valid as any other groups and should be respected as such.
Conservatives have a long history in social work until the 60’s. Now it is a divided service due to forced political agendas which should be outlawed or at least changed to be inclusive like they (NASW) preach.