This letter, requested by University of California Berkeley's president, discusses the issues of academic freedom and responsibility raised by the controversy surrounding "The Politics and Poetics of Palestinian Resistance," a section of English taught there in fall 2002. (EV)

Asserts that at least three things can be said with growing confidence about what has happened in the academy since September 11. First, academic freedom has suffered as a result of government measures. Second, the impact of the governmental response has been less severe than many would have feared. Third, the most important and troubling…

A survey of 400 Turkish college faculty found that some academic freedoms (research, no oaths or special requirements) exist at a higher level than others (self-government, association, criticism, tenure). A surprising number are not aware of their freedoms and rights. (SK)

Analyzes the origins of recent federal appellate decisions' divergence from the Supreme Court's identification of teachers' or faculty's academic freedom as "a special concern of the First Amendment." Suggests ways in which academic freedom might better be accorded its rightful importance within the framework of current Supreme Court…

Seeks to answer whether a professor's expression is a matter of public concern in order to qualify for constitutional protection; discusses public concern cases involving faculty expression. Suggests that the professor bears a difficult burden in passing this threshold test and that the scope of professors' protected speech has consequently been…

This book provides a history of the U.S. tradition of academic freedom, peer review, and shared governance in higher education as a background to a discussion of academic ethics. The book also contains a selection of ethical problems for peer discussion. The chapters are: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "The American Academic Profession: The Tradition of…

Considers school choice and employment policies. Suggests that American educators can learn a great deal from other Western nations, which have long made educational freedom a cornerstone of their policies. Concludes that the experience of other Western democracies suggests that a publicly funded school can appropriately ensure the coherence of…

Supreme Court has delineated three-step test to First Amendment cases brought by public employees, including tenured and nontenured teachers' academic freedom cases. Is teacher's conduct "protected expression" that concerns public issue without unduly rocking boat? If so, is protected expression the motivation behind district's adverse…

Colleges are less willing to cooperate with the American Association of University Professors in its investigations of institutional violations of faculty's rights, and some criticize the organization's dual role as professional association and union. (MSE)

"Accuracy in Academia" (AIA) is a new lobby organized for recruiting student volunteers to monitor university courses and expose anti-American teaching. Hard science and journalism courses will be omitted from scrutiny with emphasis on political science, economics, history, and sociology courses. University groups feel that AIA's tactics threaten…

This "Update" discusses the impact of the "Seminole Tribe v. State of Florida" decision on higher education. In essence, the Court in this decision rescinded the doctrine of "Eleventh Amendment immunity" and ruled that Congress has only limited power to enact laws that apply to state governmental entities, including…

Examines litigation involving academic freedom, expressive freedom, and drug testing as examples of the shifting balance between teacher rights and school board authority. Concludes that balancing teacher rights with community expectations is difficult, and the scales of justice may not always tip in favor of a teacher's rights. (SG)

Analyzes academic tradition concerning the rights and corresponding duties of the academic profession and then articulates principles of professional conduct that flow from academic tradition. Concludes that peer review is the linchpin for academic freedom, tenure, and shared governance in the academic tradition. (EV)

This synthesis of current attitudes on academic freedom as defined by lower court and Supreme Court cases describes the (1) framework in which academic freedom operates, (2) powers and limitations of state legislatures and school officials in defining the curriculum and setting policy, (3) rights and limitations of teachers in making curricular…

Reviews the recent history of the Fifth Amendment focusing primarily on its use by government officials during the Iran-Contra hearings and by teachers during the McCarthy era hearings. Concludes that social studies teachers must encourage discussion of the political and philosophical issues contained in the Iran-Contra hearings. (JDH)