Discusses the role of tenure and its relationship to academic freedom in Canada. Suggests that tenure qua academic freedom is best thought of as a "public good"--its justification chiefly lies in addressing external threats to university faculty. In addition, tenure serves to shield faculty from internal threats. Argues that tenure can…

Discusses investigation of librarians by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and the status of the Library Awareness Program. An American Library Association (ALA) resolution opposing FBI activities in libraries and demanding release of individual files to persons subjected to checks is described. A model letter for individuals to use in…

Discusses the freedom of information legislation enacted in New Brunswick and Newfoundland, both of which incorporate the ombudsman concept. Highlights include legislative purpose; interpretation; scope of public access to information; government information systems; exemptions; information requests; and appeal mechanisms to the ombudsman or…

Reports on continuing efforts to block free access to the Internet, and describes how several national organizations have formed an alliance to support free speech on the Internet. Includes the Internet Free Expression Alliance's mission statement and URLs for seven organizations that provide information on this issue. (SR)

Discussion of spam (i.e., electronic messages mass-posted on the Internet to people who would not otherwise choose to receive them) explains what spam is and why it is a problem. A recent attempt to force America Online to lift its ban on spamming is reported, and suggestions on what individuals can do about spam are offered. (MES)

Outlines the history of censorship and intellectual and expressive freedom in American libraries; discusses the two main types of ethical theory, utilitarianism and deontology; and maintains that libraries have a special role to play in promoting unconditional intellectual freedom. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the history of academic freedom and its relation to the recent statement by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, "Governing in the Public Trust," which places a heavy emphasis on academic freedom. Asserts that academic freedom, properly understood, protects responsible trusteeship. (EV)

Conceptions of maturity were explored among 170 adolescents in Grades 7 and 10. Adolescents were asked at what ages (and why) they expected to reach adulthood, experience the most freedom, and have the most fun. Adolescents expected to have fun at an earlier age than they expected freedom or adulthood. The majority of adolescents cited the…

Martin Hall's essay, "Academic Freedom and the university: Fifty years of debate" (2006) does offer us a way to make better sense of some of the conceptual and pragmatic links between academic freedom and institutional autonomy in relation to higher education. His analysis of the classic and contextual views of the two concepts also gives us some…

"Education Matters" is the monthly newsletter of the Association of American Educators (AAE), an organization dedicated to advancing the American teaching profession through personal growth, professional development, teacher advocacy and protection. This issue of the newsletter includes: (1) The Desperate Need for an Education Stimulus:…

Growing up in an era when protest at national political conventions is carefully contained in "free-speech zones" (often physically removed from the site of the official conventions), students today may have a difficult time conceptualizing the tumultuous scene that was the 1968 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago. Fueled by…

Case citations from federal and state court decisions concerning freedom of speech in schools are organized in five major sections with brief summaries of relevant cases in subcategories followed by a table of cases cited. The major sections are as follows: (1) "Employees' Freedom of Expression: Academic Issues" (Virginia Davis Nordin);…

Arguing that censorship is not simply an attempt to control what is taught in the schools but also an infringement on the legal learning rights of students, this collection of essays offers insights into how censorship can come about, its impacts and repercussions, and the ways it might be fought. The collection stresses action rather than…

The Internet is a network of networks, sharing the same protocol and linking universities, research communities, businesses, and individuals world wide. In this new global information infrastructure, all citizens need to understand the power and pitfalls of the technology in order to function as responsible members. This paper discusses issues…

Since freedom of thought and expression is essential in a democracy, censorship of language is rightly regarded as a threat to all other freedoms. Still, it is inevitable that certain restrictions will occasionally be imposed on language in America and in other societies. Restrictions on language date back to the Ten Commandments, which condemned…