Hanna Rosin has published a fascinating article in The New Yorker on Patrick Henry College, a small Christian school in Virginia that is becoming a breeding ground for the next generation of Republican operatives.

One scene that struck me took place in a class on the presidency that Rosin observed:

[Professor Robert] Stacey moved on to Machiavelli’s principle that politics is governed by conspiracies and lies. “Come on, we know politicians lie,” he began. “This is a bit sensitive. How about our beloved George W. Bush? Does he deceive us with what he says in public? Does he lie?”

The students, who had been fully engaged on the subject of Machiavelli and Waco, were silent. Bush has been President since they were teen-agers, and the school newspaper’s editorials never deviate from the White House position. Finally, one student said, “No, I don’t think so.”

Stacey didn’t say anything. After a pause, the student said, “I mean, it would be nice if he didn’t.”

I’m sad that so many students there seem to have never considered the possibility that Bush is dishonest, but encouraged that Stacey is pushing them to think about it. I guess it’s time to put All the President’s Spin on the syllabus! I emailed Stacey to offer him a free copy; hopefully he’ll take me up on it.

This issue also gets at a very important larger distinction between conservative principles and GOP propaganda. I have no problem with a school that takes a conservative (or liberal) approach to education as long as it teaches its students to think critically about both sides. Given the close ties between Patrick Henry and the Republican establishment, it’s especially important to make sure students aren’t just being taught to march in lockstep behind George W. Bush and Tom DeLay.