ACADEMIC FREEDOM

n A TEACHER’S A.F. IS HIS RIGHT & RESPONSIBILITY TO STUDY, INVESTIGATE, PRESENT, INTERPRET, & DISCUSS ALL THE RELEVANT FACTS & IDEAS IN THE FIELD OF HIS PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE. n THIS FREEDOM IMPLIES NO LIMITATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE IMPOSED BY THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF SCHOLARSHIP. n NCSS 1967

REQUIREMENTS OF A.F. POLICY n CLEARLY STATES THE RIGHT OF STUDENTS TO LEARN & TEACHERS TO TEACH n PROVIDES GUIDELINES AND SAFEGUARDS FOR THE STUDY OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES n DETAILS PROCEDURES FOR INVESTIGATING CRITICISM OF THE STUDY OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES n INSURES FAIR PROCEDURES & DUE PROCESS SHOULD COMPLAINTS ARISE ABOUT MATERIALS OR INSTRUCTION

PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES n GRIEVANCE POLICY n ACADEMIC POLICY n NCSS STATEMENTS

OHIO SURVEYS n 72% GRIEVANCE POLICIES n 6% A.F. POLICIES n NCSS STATEMENTS* – 2% BOARD PRESIDENTS – 11% PRINCIPALS – 23% TEACHERS

COMPONENTS OF A.F. POLICY n TEXTBOOK SELECTION n CURRICULUM DESIGN n INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS n LIBRARY ESTABLISHMENT n OUTSIDE SPEAKERS n OPEN DISCUSSION OF VIRTUES & FAULTS OF SCHOOLS n INSERVICE IMPROVEMENT n POLITICAL ACTIVITIES n PRIVATE LIFE n FREEDOM IN IDEAS & BELIEFS

LEGAL & ECONOMIC AID n NCSS DEFENSE FUND n LOCAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION n STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION n STATE S.S. GROUPS n NEA DUSHANE FUND n ACLU n A.F.T

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SHOULD A SCHOOL BOARD OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY BE ABLE TO DETERMINE? n WHETHER OR NOT A TEACHER SMOKES. n WHETHER OR NOT A MALE TEACHER IS PERMITTED TO HAVE FACIAL HAIR. n WHETHER OR NOT A TEACHER IS ALLOWED TO DATE A STUDENT FROM SCHOOL. n WHETHER OR NOT AN INSTRUCTOR MAY BE ABLE TO BELONG TO THE COMMUNIST PARTY. n WHETHER OR NOT A TEACHER SHOULD HAVE COMPLETE AUTHORITY TO SELECT THE BOOKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS HE OR SHE USES.

HEADLINES n “TEACHERS OUT BUT ‘IN’ AT TIPP” n “BOOKS BURNED, HEAT REMAINS” n “MAD RIVER MODEL: A FINE BOOK REVIEW” n “BAN BOOKS, XENIA ASKED” n “CAN SCHOOLS BAN BOOKS?”

IN THE EARLY 1900’S, A TEACHER MIGHT HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT SAYING SHE AGREED: 1. TO WEAR AT LEAST TWO PETTICOATS. 2. NEVER TO WEAR DRESSES THAT WERE MORE THAN TWO INCHES ABOVE HER ANKLES. 3. TO WEAR DARK COLORED CLOTHES. 4. NEVER TO DYE HER HAIR. 5. NEVER TO SMOKE CIGARETTES. 6. TO BE HOME FROM 8:00 P.M. UNTIL 6 A.M., UNLESS SHE WAS AT A SCHOOL MEETING. 7. TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP EVERY NIGHT. 8. NOT TO STAY DOWNTOWN IN ICE CREAM PARLORS TOO LONG.

IN THE EARLY 1900’S, A TEACHER MIGHT HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT SAYING SHE AGREED: (CONT’D) 9. NOT TO GO OUT WITH MEN. 10. NEVER TO GET MARRIED. 11. TO SWEEP THE SCHOOLROOM FLOOR EVERY DAY. 12. TO SCRUB THE SCHOOLROOM FLOOR WEEKLY. 13. TO START A FIRE IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE EVERY MORNING SO THE ROOM WOULD BE WARM WHEN THE CHILDREN ARRIVED. ** REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION, MAY 1971.