Many educators are expressing doubts about the propriety and timeliness of the movement to legislate and mandate institutional accountability, but the trend continues with encouraging results. (MSE)

Offers a lesson plan for teaching upper elementary and middle school students about the First Amendment. The lesson begins by inviting students to censor government criticism in the local newspaper and may be expanded to include an introduction to the Bill of Rights. (JDH)

The freedom of teaching around 1935 is compared to academic freedom today. Unfortunately, today there remain serious restrictions on the freedom to teach and learn social studies. (RM)

Reports on a survey of high school newspaper advisers' attitudes toward student press rights and the adviser's role, indicating that most support a free and independent press, but, unlike college advisers, high school advisers were neutral concerning faculty/administration control where a potentially damaging article was concerned. (HTH)

Teachers and other public employees enjoy the same fundamental rights as other citizens. They are entitled to free speech--though the privilege is not limitless--and to due process and equal protection under the law. (Author/DCS)

The variety of definitions given to "academic freedom" is discussed, and their relevance, applicability, and consequences for various groups and individuals and concerning teaching, learning, research, and publication are examined. (MSE)

The implications of applying state sunshine laws to state colleges and universities are examined. Considerations of political pressure, loss of privacy for individuals, difficulty in obtaining candid evaluations, and the threat of competition are cited. (MSE)

The Vatican's statement on Catholic universities outlines the objective of strengthening Catholic higher education worldwide and discusses the ecclesiastical and pastoral functions of the institutions, their role in society and in the church, Catholic university types, the environment and curriculum orientations, and planning and cooperation. (MSE)

A new generation of young academics, known as gypsy scholars, find themselves hired temporarily, drawing the worst teaching assignments, having the heaviest workloads, and having the lowest pay. Tenure is seen as academia's brass ring. The threat to tenure in Nevada is discussed. (MLW)

To improve instruction, teachers need to be brought together to work on common instructional concerns in a professional environment. To create it, supervisors need to provide more opportunities for teachers to make choices, discuss their work, observe each other, and help beginning teachers ease into their responsibilities. (Author/DCS)

Discussion of school library media specialist's involvement in reconsideration of materials from library media collection focuses on what media specialist should bring to complaint situation (school board-approved materials selection policy, training and experience, knowledge of available resources in intellectual freedom) and reconsideration…

In a statement of the American Association of University Professors' Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure, recently imposed government restraints on disclosure of academic research results are criticized as adding to already excessive restrictions, compromising academic freedom, and susceptible to executive manipulation. (MSE)

The issue of public funding of private educational institutions, while preserving their autonomy in the process, is discussed using interorganizational coordination theory to examine the statutory and master planning relationships existing between the two sectors. (MB)

The primary purpose of "National CrossTalk" is to stimulate informed discussion and debate of higher education issues. This issue contains the following articles: (1) The M Word: "Marketing" Has Changed from a Dirty Word to a Buzzword in Higher Education (Jon Marcus); (2) A Contrarian View of the Testing Industry: FairTest…

This document provides guidelines on policymaking for public librarians and public library trustees in Vermont. Topics covered include: (1) the importance of policies in bringing order, logic, stability, and continuity to a library's operation; (2) the roles of trustees and librarians in adopting carrying out policies; (3) reasons why policies…