Parents and Students for Academic Freedom (K-12)

The following piece is taking in part from Parents and Students for Academic Freedom (K-12) website.

JOINT SENATE RESOLUTION

CONCERNING ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

WHEREAS, Public primary and secondary education in the State of ___________ is an important and valued institution that fosters learning, culture, and economic vitality; and

WHEREAS, Providing students with a solid foundation in the language arts, mathematics, science, history, the humanities, and the social sciences to adequately equip students to learn to think critically, acquire an understanding of our shared national heritage and the richness and diversity of our culture, and prepare them to lead productive lives as informed and responsible citizens in our democratic republic is among the principal purposes of public primary and secondary education; and

WHEREAS, The academic freedom of instructors and the academic freedom of
students are essential and complementary elements of successful education; and

WHEREAS, Teachers and school administrators from the state’s public elementary schools, middle schools, junior and senior high schools have often expressed their commitment to valuing and respecting diversity; and

WHEREAS, A commitment to respect diversity in the educational context necessarily includes a respect for the diversity of intellectual, political, and religious viewpoints, and this commitment must remain strong; and

WHEREAS, A respect for intellectual, political, and religious diversity means that a student should never be penalized because of the opinions he or she holds that differ from a teacher's, and that all students should be made to feel comfortable in exercising their right to listen critically, to express and defend their views, and to challenge an instructor's opinions; and

To read the full JOINT SENATE RESOLUTION CONCERNING ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION go to the Parents and Students for Academic Freedom (K-12) website.