Smith College has always been woke to the point of insomnia. Now, however, it has embraced an “anti-racism reform” that even some on the left call looney. As discussed in a prior column on the same reform implemented at the University of Southern California, Smith has removed the word “field” from its social work program as racist. The reason? It reminds some of the field work of slaves.The department formerly known as the “Office of Field Education” will be now referred to as the “Office of Practicum.” …

The school heralded its replacement of the word “field” as another triumph in the fight for “dismantling oppressive and discriminating systems.”

Neither Smith nor USC is saying that the word is racist. They are saying that some may be reminded that slaves worked in fields. It does not matter that the word is not being used in even a remotely racist way. Rather than expect students to understand how words are used, it is better to ban them.

[What — putting “End Racism” in the end zones of football fields — er, PRACTICUMS — practica? — didn’t work? THIS will certainly end the systemic systems of racist system-ie stuff. And by all means, rather than educate students, we should just ban knowledge. It’s easier. For idiots. Anyway, Turley makes the cinematic joke at the end of this Academia joke, so read it all. — Ed]