In this article, the author makes the point that social studies teachers have a "professional responsibility" to educate students, no matter what protections might or might not be provided by the law, and that "as professionals, their expertise about content, pedagogy, and their students makes it not just acceptable, but mandatory, to make decisions about what and how to teach." This requires academic freedom, and she urges that "teachers should act in accordance with the responsibilities that come with academic freedom rights," even if the law does not guarantee these rights. In her judgment and experience, it is a characteristic of highly effective schools for teachers who assume these responsibilities with professional care and dedication to be accorded the academic freedoms they seek. (Contains 10 notes.)