The Long March Through the Institutions Continues!

So this is what George Will is up to these days? Taking out hits on the social work profession? To sum up, somebody passed Will a copy of the latest National Association of Scholars’ “report” on the condition of social work education. The NAS — following the rigorous methodological innovations honed by Lynne Cheney and Dinesh D’Souza between 1990-1992 — predictably discerned an elaborate “progressive” agenda within the social work field by examining course descriptions, program statements, and a few stray anecdotes featuring a handful of beleaguered conservative students (one of whom appears to be a free-market department troll whose interest in social welfare exists only insofar as he’s interested in dismantling social welfare spending in his home state of Rhode Island. At least one of the other cases appears to derive from plausible objections to a course assignment; in that case, the university conceded its error and made generous restitution. I’m not sure how this outcome helps the argument that social work programs are intransigently politicized, but I guess that’s conservative logic for you.)

Continuing its anecdotal broadside against social work programs, the NAS apparently stumbled across the decade-old Code of Ethics approved by the National Association of Social Workers, whom Will accuses of promoting a “surreptitious political agenda.” (I’m not sure how “surreptitious” such a code could actually be, given that it was approved in 1997, was revised and amended two years later, and has been available on its website ever since. But I guess that’s investigative conservative journalism for you.)

Will seems especially dismayed that universities would expect their graduates to understand the professional mores of their chosen field. For reasons I can’t quite fathom, this is supposed to be controversial. Among other things — such as requiring that social workers not fuck their clients or charge them for services not rendered (principles of which I’m sure Will would not disapprove) — the NASW encourages social workers to

pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers’ social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. These activities seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to needed information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision making for all people.

No, wait — it gets worse! Not only do are students of social work expected to concern themselves with human welfare, but they’re also expected to acknowledge that

relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change. Social workers engage people as partners in the helping process. Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well-being of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities.

Disgusting, really. And like Cap’n Crunch, I’m sure that Stalin would have approved. Lo, that isn’t the worst of it. Behold:

Social workers elevate service to others above self-interest. Social workers draw on their knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to address social problems. Social workers are encouraged to volunteer some portion of their professional skills with no expectation of significant financial return (pro bono service).

I can’t wait for John Stossel to get a hold of that one! Clearly, social work programs need to be reminded of what the free market and possessive individualism can deliver in the way of social justice and economic opportunity.