NCTE AFFILIATES CONFER 2005 INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AWARDS

Since 1975, SLATE (Support for the Learning and Teaching of English) has been an NCTE Standing Committee on social and political concerns. SLATE seeks to influence public attitudes and policy decisions affecting the teaching of English language arts at local, state and national levels. SLATE makes no policy of its own, but seeks to implement and publicize the polities adopted by NCTE. SLATE serves as NCTE’s intellectual freedom network.

The NCTE/SLATE Intellectual Freedom Awards have been in existence since 1997. The awards recognize those individuals, groups, or institutions that have advanced the cause of intellectual freedom. These awards are given in two categories: (1) a national Intellectual Freedom Award http://www.ncte.org/groups/affiliates/awards/109295.htm and (2) state, regional, and provincial affiliate awards http://www.ncte.org/groups/affiliates/awards/109291.htm. Following are those recognized as 2005 NCTE/SLATE Affiliate Intellectual Freedom Award Winners. These winners, in addition to being honored by their affiliates, will be honored at the NCTE Annual Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the Affiliate Roundtable Breakfast, November 19, 2005.

The Illinois Association of Teachers of English (IATE) and NCTE recognize Senator Richard Durbin. Senator Durbin cosponsored the Security and Freedom Enhancement Act (SAFE Act), a bipartisan bill that would amend a number of troublesome provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act which currently grant the Federal Bureau of Investigation broad, unchecked power to monitor American citizens. The SAFE Act would impose reasonable limits on the FBI’s seizure of business and library records, “sneak and peek” warrants,” and roving wiretaps. In addition to this recognition, Senator Durbin will receive the 2005 NCTE/SLATE National Intellectual Freedom Award.

The Kentucky Council of Teachers of English/Language Arts (KCTE/LA) and NCTE recognize Cyndie Powell Skellie. Cyndie Powell Skellie directed the production of Shelby County's "The Rose of Treason" by James DeVita. The play is a true story of courage, selflessness, and faith in what is right, set in 1943 Germany. The plot centers around some university students who start a resistance group aimed at bringing down Hitler and his regime. While focused on the past, the production made linkages to contemporary issues, such as censorship through The Patriot Act. Skellie's directing skills connected the two issues subtly, using projections with significant quotes, often times words that could have come from the Nightly News. This was a risky endeavor in a conservative county and state.

The Nebraska English Language Arts Council (NELAC) and NCTE recognize Linda Beckstead. Linda Beckstead is a teacher of English and Journalism at Bellevue High School and a leader in our state on issues that deal with academic freedom. She is a past president of AFCON (Academic Freedom Coalition of Nebraska) and is called upon time and again to lead workshops dealing with censorship and journalism and speech issues. She is indeed a defender of free speech.