‘I’m Not Paying for Your Opinion’

Students also need to learn that being offended is an emotional response, not a rational one. If you don’t like something I’ve said–or, as in this case, something somebody else said–don’t just get upset about it. See if you can formulate a cogent rebuttal. That, too, is a key element of critical thinking.

Finally–and most importantly–students should understand that they are in fact paying for our opinions. That’s not to say that faculty members should necessarily be telling students what to think, but we do have a responsibility to teach them how to think. And that involves, in part, exposing them to what others have thought–including, when appropriate, ourselves.–

‘I’m Not Paying for Your Opinion’ – On Hiring – The Chronicle of Higher Education.