Question about Academic Freedom

Date: Apr 13, 2004

Question about Academic Freedom

Date: Apr 13, 2004

Here is the AAUP's statement on academic freedom:

ACADEMIC FREEDOM

Teachers are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the institution.
Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject.[2] Limitations of academic freedom because of religious or other aims of the institution should be clearly stated in writing at the time of the appointment.[3]
College and university teachers are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence they should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.[

Look at point "c" when it talks about being free from institutional censorship or discipline when speaking or writing as citizens. I would imagine that this is what people are thinking about when they say that issues of academic freedom are being called into question here. Also, remember that Shelby Thames is also a faculty member, and has most definitely broken that last admonition to "make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution." Good God, the man acts like he OWNS all of the students, his most precious "possessions" he has said on numerous occasions. What a patronizing thing to do.

I'm not a faculty member, but I do work very closely with faculty (though not at USM anymore). Every faculty member that has heard of this incident has told me that issues of academic freedom are at play here. I'm assuming this is what they are referring to.

Date: Apr 13, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm

Sorry for the weird formatting above.

Date: Apr 13, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm
"Sorry for the weird formatting above."

manova:

actually, I think this action impinges on both issues of goverance and academic freedom. You make a good point that the object of the "investigation" certainly at least relates to the issue of governance (who decides on the standards and procedures by which faculty are reviewed for tenure and promositon, and who determines who is part of the review process.)

The academic freedom issue lies in the chilling effect of the firing itself -- an effect that may well extend itself to academic freedom issues, since it may well be assumed that professors who are less likely to feel that tenure is a protective cloak may well also be more reticent to speak their minds in class or in public.