Chapter 8: Defending Academic Freedom: Advice for Teachers

Over 40 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court famously observed:

That sentiment is particularly appropriate for social studies and history teachers, who should be free to expose students to controversial ideas and to teach critical thinking skills. But are you free? Do you have the constitutional right—call it academic freedom—to teach what you want and to discuss controversial issues in the classroom? The short answer is “no.” Indeed, after a 2006 Supreme Court decision, it’s pretty clear that teachers can be required to read from a script written by their employer. Happily, in practice, most school boards don’t try to exercise that degree of control. And there are actions teachers can take to keep it that way. But first, an abbreviated history of academic freedom in the courts.