ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND ACCURACY IN ACADEMIA

WHEREAS, the American Federation of Teachers regards academic freedom as an essential attribute of every community of scholars, an indispensable condition of all universities and colleges, and an inseparable part of the academic experience; and

WHEREAS, it reaffirms the principle that the common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free expression and that students and faculties should be free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions, publicly or privately; and

WHEREAS, the integrity of education is endangered by organizations that sponsor systematic monitoring of the classroom; and

WHEREAS, the AFT believes further that there can be no more appropriate place for the voluntary examination of ideas than a college or university forum:

RESOLVED, that the AFT oppose classroom monitoring by organizations such as Accuracy in Academia; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT oppose encroachments by individuals and groups seeking to intrude into the classroom and impose their philosophy or standards upon the academic community; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT defend the right to discuss issues freely and defend academic employees in the pursuit of these principles, and that it call upon all of its affiliates to recognize the danger to academic freedom posed by Accuracy in Academia and to protect those individuals whose professional rights may be violated.