I believe the half of the staff that were so vigorously agreeing were merely seeing their own reflected teachings. It is unfortunate, but many teachers are busy teaching social justice and discussing their opinions on what the world should be, rather than the subjects they are entrusted to teach. While I don't mind teachers expressing their personal opinions, that is healthy and natural, it is best to entertain all sides of a topic. I believe the problem is the one-sided discussions where dissent is oppressed that is the actual problem. Do you remember debate exercises where you develop an argument and defended it and then switched sides and argued for your debate partners point of view? I think this opens the mind to the pros and cons of each view and expands the reasoning and understanding of the students. Perhaps it is time to bring this back?