This video is about a complex, timely, and often misunderstood topic: academic freedom.
Political changes and turmoil have made certain forms of teacher speech and instruction within the classroom more controversial. As a result, there are more discussions and questions regarding what academic freedom is and the rights it does and does not provide educators.
Discussion topics include:
- How are academic freedom and free speech related?
- When is teachers' speech considered government speech and not protected?
- Are personal grievances about school matters considered protected speech?
- Under what conditions might teachers' speech as private citizens on public concerns be protected?
- How does academic freedom allow teachers discretion in choosing topics and teaching methods?
- How do academic freedom rights differ between higher education and K-12 settings?