Academic Freedom Who Possesses It The Student The Professor

According to some, these types of cases deal with rights that belong to everyone, not just students or professors, and that the legal concept of academic freedom is ill defined and inconsistent.

1 Who Possesses It?

1.1 The Student

The idea of academic freedom as a right of the student is German in origin. In this model (known in German as Lernfreiheit), the student is free to pursue their own course of study, taking whatever courses they like at whatever university they choose. This ideal was carried to the United States in the 19th century by some scholars who had studied at German universities. It was most prominently employed in the United States by Charles EliotCharles Eliot (1859-1897) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He died at the age of 38, from spinal meningitis. His father was president of Harvard University. Under Eliot’s father's 40-year administration, Harvard expanded from a small college with att at Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA and a member of the Ivy League. It was founded on September 8, 1636 by a vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, making it the oldest post-secondary s between 1872Events January 2 Brigham Young, is arrested for bigamy (25 wives). February 20 In New York City the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens. March 1 Yellowstone National Park is established as the world's first national park March 5 George Westinghouse patents t and 1897Events January 1 Brooklyn, New York merges with New York City. January 4 A British force is ambushed by Chief Ologbosheri, son-in-law of the Oba of Benin. This leads to a Punitive Expedition against Benin. February 2 The Pennsylvania state capitol is dest, when the only required course was freshman rhetoricRhetoric (from Greek ρητωρ, rhetor "orator") is one of the three original liberal arts or trivium (the other members are dialectic and grammar). While it has meant many different things during its 2500-year history, it is generally d.

The American Association of University ProfessorsThe American Association of University Professors AAUP is an organization of professors and other academics in the United States. Its stated mission is to advance academic freedom and shared governance, to define fundamental professional values and standa (AAUP) acknowledged this application of the term "academic freedom" in its "General Declaration of Principles" in 1915Events January 12 The Rocky Mountain National Park is established by an act of Congress. January 12 United States House of Representatives rejects proposal to give women the right to vote. January 13 An earthquake (6. 8 in Richter scale) in Avezzano, Ital, but when it issued a "Statement on the Academic Freedom of Students" in 1964Events January January 1 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. January 3 Senator Barry Goldwater announces that he will seek the Republican nomination for President. January 5 In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Ort, the concept described was far different from the traditional German model. (Kemp, p. 6)

1.2 The Professor

The concept of academic freedom as a right of faculty members (Lehrfreiheit in German) is an established part of German, English and American cultures. All three acknowledge the right of a faculty member to pursue research and publish their findings without restraint, but they differ in regard to the professor's freedom in a classroom situation.

In the German tradition, a professor is permitted to attempt to persuade his students to adopt his point of view on a matter, but he is discouraged or prohibited from stating his views, particularly political views, outside the class; in regard to his teaching, there should be no duties required of the professor, no prescribed syllabus, and no restriction to a particular subject.

An American professor, on the other hand, is expected to present opposing viewpoints about his subject in a fair and objective manner in class, but he is free to have and express his own opinions outside the university setting without fear of recrimination, though it is understood that this freedom is limited by the requirement to perform "other academic duties." (Kemp, p. 7) (Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, American Association of University Professors)

1.3 The Institution

A prominent feature of the English university concept is the freedom to appoint faculty, set standards and admit students. This ideal may be better described as institutional autonomy and is distinct from whatever freedom is granted to students and faculty by the institution. (Kemp, p. 7)

The Supreme Court of the United States said that academic freedom means a university can "determine for itself on academic grounds:

who may teach
what may be taught
how it should be taught, and
who may be admitted to study." (Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265, 312. 1978.) (Standler)

2 Freedom From What or To Do What?

Apart from the traditional German concept, which has few advocates today, it is generally believed that inquiry by students and faculty members is legitimately limited by academic requirements, but should be free from external restraints, as this is the best climate for the pursuit of truth.

A group called "Students for Academic Freedom" defines it simply as, "The freedom to teach and to learn." They contend in "The Academic Bill of Rights" that academic freedom promotes "intellectual diversity" and helps achieve a university's primary goals, i.e., "the pursuit of truth, the discovery of new knowledge through scholarship and research, the study and reasoned criticism of intellectual and cultural traditions, the teaching and general development of students to help them become creative individuals and productive citizens of a pluralistic democracy, and the transmission of knowledge and learning to a society at large."

3 References

Kenneth W. Kemp (1997). What is Academic Freedom?. University of St. Thomas.
Ronald B. Standler (2000). Academic Freedom in the USA

4 External links

Academia

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