When Good Academics Do Bad Things

Quillette Narrated

In a speech at the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law, Jonathan Kay shared insights from investigating a controversy at the university's teachers college. The story involves Margaret Munn, a middle-aged educator who faced backlash for questioning the concept of "decolonization" in a course titled "Indigenous Education: Towards a Decolonizing Pedagogy." Munn was reported to the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee and faced potential expulsion for her views. However, a UWO tribunal eventually ruled in her favor, citing violations of free speech. The editor’s investigation highlights the institutional pressures and the complex dynamics of academic environments focused on decolonization and social justice.