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Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition.
~Jacques Barzun
Teachers must take back our
schools from partisan pontificators and political hacks.
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Careers & advice Art Portal Arts & Culture PDX Music, Theatre, & Creative Arts Education |
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Education is a necessary prerequisite for a functioning
democracy. The United States is the richest and most powerful nation on the planet. We could be a mighty advocate for universal education rights. Instead, our schools are failing and getting worse. This is a matter of national and international security. It is time to address the issue. Tim Flanagan, editor of The Wordsmith Collection |
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BLUE BANNER The AAUP
Online News for the Higher Education Community Imagine that you are teaching at a public university that not only supports but encourages your participation in institutional governance. You speak up on several matters that you think undermine the faculty role or your students? experience? and for your trouble, you are denied a raise, saddled with additional work, or even fired. Do the universities' actions violate the First Amendment? The AAUP and the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression recently filed an amicus (?friend of the court?) brief (http://www.aaup.org/NR/rdonlyres/E0C569DB-DE60-4D19-8208-C5C8EC584132/0/HongAmicusBriefFILED031708.pdf) in such a case. The brief, which was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, supports the appeal of Dr. Juan Hong in his First Amendment lawsuit against the administration of the University of California, Irvine. The case could have significant implications for faculty members at all public colleges and universities?and, ironically, could have the strongest negative impact on faculty that are encouraged to participate in university governance. Dr. Hong, a full professor at UCI, allegedly angered university administrators by opposing certain faculty hiring and promotion decisions and the use of lecturers in place of professors. After Dr. Hong was denied a merit salary increase and given an increased workload, he filed suit, claiming that the university violated his First Amendment right to free speech. A federal trial judge in California rejected Dr. Hong?s claim. The judge reviewed Garcetti v. Ceballos,( http://www.aaup.org/NR/rdonlyres/FA297466-D642-4040-987D-BAF46DDA0CA0/0/GarcettiSupremeCourtFinal.pdf), in which the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment did not protect public employees from discharge for statements made ?pursuant to their official duties? but declined to decide whether its ruling extended to ?speech related to scholarship or teaching.? The judge in Dr. Hong?s case concluded that Dr. Hong?s participation in faculty governance was ?pursuant to his official duties,? and that the university?s retaliation therefore did not violate the First Amendment. The court failed to acknowledge, however, that the Garcetti decision explicitly set aside the question of protection for academic speech, and held that ?UCI is entitled to unfettered discretion when it restricts statements an employee makes on the job and according to his professional responsibilities.? The AAUP?s amicus brief focuses on the unique status granted to academic speech, and its relation to shared governance. The brief notes that faculty speech has been accorded special First Amendment protection by the Supreme Court since Sweezy v. State of New Hampshire, 354 U.S. 234 (1957). The hallmark of such cases, the brief notes, is the recognition that academic freedom merits distinctive First Amendment protection against repressive action from within or outside the campus community. The AAUP brief argues that participation in faculty governance is part and parcel of professors? First Amendment-protected right of academic freedom to speak without fear of retaliation. The brief also observes that the court failed to distinguish between faculty rights and responsibilities, and argues that the court?s decision will empower universities with strong policies in favor of shared governance to discipline faculty members who annoy administrators through their involvement in univ! ersity governance. No schedule has been set yet for oral arguments in the case. The AAUP Online is an electronic newsletter of the American Association of University Professors. For more information about the AAUP, visit http://lyris.eresources.com:81/t/2847074/4147815/470/0/ |
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The map on higher education spending ... Higher Education Resource Hub
clearinghouse of information resources
Universal
Basic and Secondary
Education
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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activeresource.org/ alternativenewsresource.org computerresource.org environmental resource internationalpeaceresources.org peaceresource.com peaceresource.org thewordsmithcollection.org unionresource.org writingresource.org writingresources.org |
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The Faculty Federation is
calling on all members to ask their legislators to support the
full $529 Million budget for community colleges. The
current proposed budget from the Co-Chairs of the Joint Ways and
Means Committee has put Oregon's Colleges and Universities in a
bind as we race towards the end of session. Some institutions
are threatening lay-offs, while others are sure to put the
squeeze on employee pay and benefits, or further raise tuition.
Since 2001, Oregon's community colleges have lost over $100
million in state support once inflation is factored in. The
Co-Chairs budget recommendation for Community Colleges
represents a 13.7% decrease in funding for Community Colleges
from 2001. In order to keep pace with the needs of our state, it is vital that the legislature work with the Governor to reach $529 million in state support for community colleges. There are two things you can do to help restore the funding to Oregon's community colleges: E-mail your state legislator. Click on this link and enter your name and zip code. AFT-Activator will automatically send an e-mail supporting the full $529 Million budget for community colleges to your state representative and senator: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/cc_budget Please Contact your legislator: Please contact your legislator today and let them know we
cannot continue to undercut higher education in this state. |
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Some useful links: Writing Resources
The
books at the left are recommended resources for those who want
to write effectively. They can supplement any secondary, college, or
graduate-level writing project. If you would like to obtain either book,
click at left. The Writers Harbrace Handbook is a basic guide and
rulebook for writers. It has particularly useful resources on rhetoric.
Adventures in writing is designed as a practical guide for the writing
process. The book is designed for people who want to improve their
writing, including students from non-English based learning environments.
For questions, contact
Tim@WritingResource.org/
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